Cutaneous manifestations in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine and subtype cutaneous lymphoma specimens for diagnosis.


METHODS
Aspiration smears from skin lesions and lymph nodes diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) on cytology in 6 cases over a period of 1 year were reviewed. Two were follow-up cases of nodal lymphoma and were receiving chemotherapy, during which they developed skin lesions. In 4, the patients had cutaneous lesions as a presenting manifestation. Cytologic findings were correlated with histologic and hematologic findings and immunocytochemical markers for subtyping.


RESULTS
Patients ranged from 14 to 50 years, with equal sex ratio. All presented with 0.5-5 cm multiple nodular, ulcerated and fungating skin lesions at various body sites. The aspirate was satisfactory in all cases. Cytologically, all cases were diagnosed as NHL. They were then immunocytochemistry subtyped as various lymphomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Cutaneous lymphoma should always be considered in the presence of predominantly atypical lymphoid cells in smears from nodular and fungating skin lesions, even in the absence of a definitive clinical diagnosis.
Mandal
Shramana
S
Department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
Varma
Kachnar
K
Jain
Shyama
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor