Extranodal head and neck lymphomas in Guatemala: high frequency of Epstein-Barr virus-associated sinonasal lymphomas

Sinonasal lymphomas of T cell or natural killer cell (T/NK cell) phenotype represent a subset of extranodal head and neck lymphomas. T/NK cell sinonasal lymphomas have been described in diverse geographic settings, including China, Japan, Peru, Northern Europe, and North America. The frequency of these lymphomas is highly dependent on the geographic location in which they occur, their incidence being low in Europe and North America and relatively high in Asian countries and in Peru. Regardless of their geographic location, they are typically associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Few studies have addressed the relative frequency of sinonasal lymphoma within the group of extranodal head and neck lymphomas. We investigated the anatomic distribution, immunophenotypical profile, and EBV status of 33 cases of extranodal head and neck lymphoma from patients in Guatemala. The anatomic distribution of these lymphomas is similar to that seen in Asian countries: 17 (52%) in the sinonasal area, five (15%) in the palate, and 11 (33%) in other locations. Fifteen (88%) of the 17 sinonasal lymphomas showed a T or null cell phenotype with a strong association with EBV by in situ hybridization. Most Guatemalan patients with these lymphomas were of Mayan descent. In Guatemala, the relative frequency of sinonasal lymphomas within the group of head and neck lymphomas is significantly higher than that reported for Western countries. In addition, the relative frequency of T/NK versus B cell sinonasal lymphomas is higher than that described in North America and similar to that observed in Asian countries and Peru.