Case Report: Epstein-Barr-Virus negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma detected in a peri-prosthetic membrane

Primary bone lymphomas (PBL) are extremely rare malignant neoplasms. The most commonly described subtype of PBL is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DLBCL within peri-prosthetic membrane of a joint is exceedingly rare. To the best of our knowledge this case is the second reported Epstein-Bar-Virus (EBV) negative DLBCL in a peri-prosthetic membrane in the literature.

We report an 80 year old female patient who developed a DLBCL with chronic inflammation in association to a metallic implant in the left knee. This lymphoma in contrast to the usually described DLBCL in the peri-prosthetic membrane was EBV negative by EBER in situ hybridization as well as by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

This report challenges the concept of DLBCL associated with chronic inflammation and raises the question of other pathogenetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of this rare disease.