A 12-year-old boy presents with fever, sore throat, cervical lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. Peripheral blood smear shows atypical lymphocytes. A heterophile antibody test is positive. Which malignancy is most strongly associated with the virus causing this illness?

• A Hepatocellular carcinoma
• B Adult T-cell leukemia
• C Kaposi sarcoma
• D Burkitt lymphoma ✓

Explanation

The presentation is classic infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is associated with Burkitt lymphoma (especially African endemic type), nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma is linked to HBV/HCV. Kaposi sarcoma is caused by HHV-8. Adult T-cell leukemia is caused by HTLV-1.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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