Primary hepatic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a patient with chronic hepatitis C

Epidemiological and experimental data suggest that the hepatitis C virus infection might be associated with the development of distinct types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Here, we report a case of a patient with chronic hepatitis C and type II mixed cryoglobulinemia, who developed a primary hepatic non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma. A diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma was diagnosed based on morphological, immunophenotypical and molecular genetic findings. Hepatitis C virus replication, as evaluated by strand-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, was detected in the nonneoplastic liver, but not in the lymphomatous tissue. High grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, although rare complications, have to be considered as part of the spectrum of hepatitis C virus-related hepatic lesions.