title: Characteristics of cutaneous marginal zone lymphomas with marked plasmacytic differentiation and a T cell-rich background.
abstract: Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a common B-cell lymphoma of skin and is characterized by an infiltrate of neoplastic marginal zone B cells typically within the marginal zones of reactive lymphoid follicles and the interfollicular region. However, in our experience, many cases have underemphasized features such as marked plasmacytic differentiation and/or a prominent T-cell component, which may obscure the neoplastic B cells and lead to misdiagnosis. We wanted to draw attention to these features and have studied 15 cases of MZL with marked plasmacytic differentiation, 10 of which had numerous T cells, some with cytologic atypia, and few B cells in the interfollicular region. Plasma cells were monotypic in all cases by in situ hybridization. By polymerase chain reaction, 6 of 8 T cell-rich cases had an IGH gene rearrangement, and none were clonal for T-cell receptor gene. We discuss the terminology, morphologic features, molecular profile, behavior, and differential diagnosis of cutaneous MZL.
authors.affiliation: Departmentsof Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Julia Turbiner
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: Janina A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Longtine
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Flotte
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Lawrence R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Zukerberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm