The protean spectrum of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with prominent involvement of subcutaneous fat.
BACKGROUND
Subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma (STCL) represents a controversial entity and a confused concept in the field of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs). Recently, alpha/beta+/CD8+ STCL has been recognized by the new World Health Organization (WHO)-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) classification of primary cutaneous lymphomas as a distinct entity in the group of CTCLs.


METHODS
We reviewed a series of 53 biopsies from 26 patients (F : M = 19:7; median age: 48; range 18-87) of cutaneous B- and T-cell lymphomas characterized by prominent involvement of the subcutaneous tissue. We could classify our cases according to the following seven categories--(i) STCL: n = 16; (ii) extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type: n = 2; (iii) cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma: n = 2; (iv) anaplastic CD30+ large T-cell lymphoma: n = 1; (v) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, secondary cutaneous: n = 3; (vi) lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, secondary cutaneous: n = 1; (vii) specific cutaneous manifestations of myelogenous leukemia: n = 1.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated the protean nature of lymphomas with prominent involvement of the subcutaneous fat tissues. The term STCL should be restricted to a homogeneous group of cases characterized morphologically by an exclusive involvement of subcutaneous tissues, immunohistochemically by a T-cytotoxic alpha/beta phenotype, and biologically by a relatively good prognosis.
Massone
Cesare
C
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Lozzi
Gian Piero
GP
Egberts
Friederike
F
Fink-Puches
Regina
R
Cota
Carlo
C
Kerl
Helmut
H
Cerroni
Lorenzo
L
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor