Affiliation:
1. Department of Pathology, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (FMB UNESP) and D’or/São Luiz Hospitals, São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most important viral causes for the development of tumours. The global geographical epidemiology of EBV shows prevalence differences between rich and poor countries across the world, and the impact on health suggests EBV should be an important target of research worldwide. This article will discuss the biology of the virus with an emphasis on its latency types, vital to understanding the possibilities of viral detection. The main objective is to discuss two lymphoproliferative diseases that are associated with EBV and appear in the World Health Organization (WHO) 2017 Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues: EBV-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma and EBV mucocutaneous ulcer. The name of the former was changed to support the better understanding of infection pathology, while the second was recently described and made its debut in the WHO classification. Pathologists must have knowledge on these diseases and how to investigate them, and oncologists and clinical doctors must be informed on the guidelines.