Challenges in delineating B-cell lymphoma: A case of plasmablastic lymphoma mimicking Burkitt lymphoma

An immunocompromised body state following the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases the risk of certain cancers like Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma. B-cell lymphomas are the common neoplasms that occur, and Oral Plasmablastic lymphoma is one of its types. It is categorized as a large B-cell lymphoma and an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These are rare tumours that histologically resemble other lymphomas, like Burkitt lymphoma, causing a diagnostic dilemma for pathologists. Here we report a rare case of Oral Plasmablastic lymphoma in a 32-year-old HIV-positive male with tuberculosis infection. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to confirm the diagnosis, and the markers used for differentiating various lymphomas have been discussed.