Plasmablastic lymphoma in an HIV patient with cutaneous presentation: A case of remarkable remission in a typically refractory disease

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma of B-cell lineage and is frequently but not always associated with HIV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Unlike diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common aggressive lymphoma, PBL is associated with a dire prognosis when treated using regimens commonly adopted for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Most studies, albeit all small sample sizes, report survival in the range of 3 to 12 months. Long-term survival for patients with relapsed PBL is extremely rare, as the malignancy becomes highly resistant to chemotherapy.