Criteria for the definition of Epstein-Barr virus association in Hodgkin's disease.

There is a clear association between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Hodgkin's disease (HD). EBV is not, however, detectable within the affected tissues of all cases. The proportion of positive cases varies from 15-79% depending on the assay used to detect EBV. The techniques utilised vary not only in sensitivity but in their ability to detect viral DNA, RNA, or protein and in their ability to demonstrate the cellular localisation of the virus. Thus, the biological significance of a positive result will vary depending on the method of analysis. In the present study, four different methods of detecting EBV were compared. RNA in situ hybridization was found to be the most practical method of detecting EBV in tumour cells. Using this assay EBV was detected in the Reed-Sternberg cells of 33% and 45% of the two series of HD cases examined in this study. We believe that these cases should be considered EBV-associated.