title: Cutaneous infiltration in T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia.
abstract: T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL) is an aggressive leukaemia accounting for over 30% of all mature T-cell malignancies. We describe the clinical manifestations and histology of cutaneous involvement in a series of 92 patients with T-PLL. Of the 92 patients, 26 (28%) had cutaneous involvement, and in 23 this was present at the time of the diagnosis of the leukaemia. Skin manifestations included a diffuse infiltrated erythema, infiltration localized to the face and ears, nodules and erythroderma. Histology showed a perivascular and periappendageal dermal infiltrate of lymphoid cells with the morphology of prolymphocytes. An early skin biopsy in these patients should help to reveal the underlying diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Helier NHS Trust, Carshalton, Surrey, U.K.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mallett
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matutes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Catovsky
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maclennan
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Holden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015463:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / Q000473:pathology*; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*