Polyclonal polymorphic B‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder with prominent pulmonary involvement in children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Four cases of pediatric Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) with lymphoproliferative disorder are described and other lymphoid lesions in previously reported cases of pediatric AIDS are reviewed. The lymphoproliferative disorder was characterized by polyclonal, polymorphic B‐cell content without evidence of cellular atypia, necrosis or prominent mitotic activity but with predominantly extranodal systemic and prominent pulmonary involvement. Since the lesion has overlapping features it is considered to be intermediate between benign and malignant lymphoproliferations and designated as polyclonal, polymorphic B‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder (PBLD) of pediatric AIDS. The PBLD is part of a spectrum of lymphoid lesions in pediatric AIDS consisting of follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of nodal and extranodal sites, pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia/lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis complex (PLH/LIP complex) in cases previously reported by the authors, and also malignant lymphoma reported by others. It is possible that Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) by itself or in synergism with human T‐lymphotropic virus‐type III (HTLV‐III) is related to pathogenesis of PBLD in children with AIDS.