Epstein-Barr virus in Hodgkin's disease and site of origin of tumour.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may be involved in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease. We investigated whether EBV in Hodgkin's disease is related to the site of origin of the tumour. In 40 patients with stage I disease, there was a significant association between EBV latent membrane protein (LMP-1) expression and presentation in neck lymph nodes. There was no association in stage II-IV disease (57 cases). Nodular sclerosing subtype was rarely associated with LMP-1 expression. In some cases of Hodgkin's disease of mixed cellularity or lymphocyte predominant subtype originating in the neck, EBV may be an important aetiological co-factor.