Meer S, et al. - Via a retrospective study of 45 extra-oral plasmablastic lymphomas (EPBLs, PBL occurs principally in immune-compromised individuals, usually secondary to HIV infection) including patients' age, gender, race, HIV status, and site, researchers explained the immunophenotype and EBV status in a large single-center cohort of EPBL in South Africa, a high HIV setting. Pure plasmablastic morphology and plasmacytic differentiation was exhibited by 27 and 18 PBLs, respectively. Male: female ratio was 1.5:1. The anus was the preferred extra-oral site, followed by lymph nodes. The HIV positive nature was noted in all 29 individuals of known HIV status. In HIV-positive and negative individuals, the immunohistochemical profile summarized that reported for oral and EPBLs. In 92.5% of PBLs, positive EBV was discovered. In 48% of cases, the FISH analysis demonstrated MYC rearrangement. Therefore, a strong correlation of EPBLs with HIV and EBV infection, comparable to formerly described oral PBL was concluded. Moreover, in differentiating PBL from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and plasma cell myeloma, the high EBV relationship together with other clinicopathologic parameters and an immunohistochemical profile that includes CD45, CD20, MUM1/IRF4, CD138, and Ki-67 may be utilized.