Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma with cutaneous involvement: 'nasal' vs. 'nasal-type' subgroups--a retrospective study of 18 patients.
BACKGROUND
Extranodal natural killer T (NK/T) cell lymphoma is subcategorized into 'nasal' and 'nasal-type' NK/T-cell lymphomas according to the primary sites of anatomical involvement.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize the cutaneous manifestations of the skin involving extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma and to define the distinctive features of 'nasal' and 'nasal-type'. In addition, the prognostic factors that affect overall survival were investigated.


METHODS
A retrospective case study of 18 patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma with cutaneous involvement was performed.


RESULTS
The NK/T-cell lymphomas usually occurred in middle-aged, male patients. Most of the patients presented with either cellulitis or ulcer. A facial predilection for the location of the lesion was noted. The characteristic features of the 'nasal-type' compared with the 'nasal' were a localized involvement of the skin, less aggressive clinical course and better survival outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas are extremely aggressive regardless of their subgroup. However, the 'nasal-type' NK/T-cell lymphoma was clinically less aggressive, more localized and had a better outcome compared with the other type. Cellulitis and ulcer were the major cutaneous manifestations.
Choi
Y-L
YL
Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Gangam-gu, Seoul 135-710, South Korea.
Park
J-H
JH
Namkung
J-H
JH
Lee
J-H
JH
Yang
J-M
JM
Lee
E-S
ES
Lee
D-Y
DY
Jang
K-T
KT
Ko
Y-H
YH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054391:Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult