Spontaneous regression in angiocentric T-cell lymphoma

An 8-year-old boy presented with a 10-week history of ulcerating lesions which were histologically and immunocytochemically consistent with the diagnosis of angiocentric T-cell lymphoma. The disease was limited to the skin and resolved with no chemotherapy. Angiocentric T-cell lymphoma is commonly a disease with considerable morbidity and is often fatal. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could not be identified in involved tissue by immunostaining or by in situ hybridization. We consider whether the uncharacteristic absence of EBV in this case has prognostic significance.