Primary cutaneous follicle center cell lymphoma with follicular growth pattern.
Cutaneous B-cell infiltrates showing a prominent follicular growth pattern with germinal centers are thought by some authors to represent either marginal zone lymphomas with reactive germinal centers or pseudolymphomas. To establish whether a true primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma exists, we studied biopsies from 15 patients with skin lesions characterized histopathologically by the presence of B-cell infiltrates with follicular pattern. Staging investigations, including bone marrow biopsy, were negative in all patients. All were negative for bcl-2 protein expression and did not present the t(14;18). In all biopsy specimens neoplastic follicles showed 1 or more morphologic or immunophenotypic criteria of malignancy (presence of a reduced mantle zone, absence of tingible body macrophages, reduced proliferation rate). In 9 specimens a monoclonal rearrangement of J(H) genes could be detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis. After laser beam microdissection, a band of the same length could be observed in 6 probes from different follicles from the same specimen, indicating the presence of the same monoclonal population of follicle center cells. Follow-up examinations in all patients revealed no evidence of extracutaneous spread (mean follow-up, 48.7 months). Our study demonstrates that primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma represents a distinct entity of the cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. (Blood. 2000;95:3922-3928)
Cerroni
L
L
Department of Dermatology, University of Graz, Austria. lorenzo.cerroni@kfunigraz.ac.at
Arzberger
E
E
Pütz
B
B
Höfler
G
G
Metze
D
D
Sander
C A
CA
Rose
C
C
Wolf
P
P
Rütten
A
A
McNiff
J M
JM
Kerl
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
D015703:Antigens, CD; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains