Gene analysis in 18 cases of cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates of uncertain significance.
METHODS
Patients with cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates that appear reactive histologically and immunophenotypically may develop clinically overt cutaneous lymphoma, suggesting the possibility of misdiagnosis by classical methods. We investigated DNA rearrangement in such cases of lymphoid infiltrates of uncertain significance to determine whether this more sensitive method could detect an occult monoclonal lymphoid proliferation.


METHODS
Skin biopsy specimens were taken from 18 cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates diagnosed as reactive on the basis of clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical criteria. Specimens included 12 cases with mixed lymphoid infiltrates rich in polytypic B cells and inconstant follicle formation and 6 cases with exclusive T-lymphoid infiltrates. Southern blot analysis for immunoglobulin and T-cell-receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements was performed in all cases.


RESULTS
No specimen showed T-cell-receptor beta-chain gene rearrangement. Clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement was demonstrated in one case with polytypic B cells, but no clinical malignancy has appeared 19 years after disease onset duration and 7 years after detection of the B-cell clone.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present series, the results suggest that histological and immunohistological criteria are appropriate to establish the diagnosis of most cases of cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates. The detection of a B-cell clone is remarkable by absence of clinical malignancy, suggesting that such a discovery does not necessarily mean an aggressive evolution. Nevertheless, there is presently no way to predict the prognosis of a clonal lymphoid proliferation, indicating that a long-term follow-up is necessary.
Département d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
J
J
Wechsler
M
M
Bagot
T
T
Henni
J P
JP
Le Couedic
P
P
Gaulard
E S
ES
Zafrani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta