title: Evaluation of different methods in the follow-up of patients with indolent types of primary cutaneous lymphomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary cutaneous lymphomas (CLs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases arising from B or T lymphocytes. CLs are grouped according to their clinical behaviour into indolent, intermediate and aggressive types. Indolent CLs respond well to therapy but frequently relapse, resulting in prolonged periods of follow-up.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of follow-up examinations in indolent CL.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed a cohort from a CL outpatient clinic at a tertiary referral centre. Seventy-five patients with indolent cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) and 34 patients with indolent cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) were included. The value of clinical examination, blood tests and imaging procedures for detection of recurrence or progression was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with CTCL all but one disease recurrences were detected by clinical examination. Lymph node or organ involvement was detected by imaging procedures in seven patients, of whom all but one had recurrent or persistent CL lesions. In CBCL all recurrences were detected by clinical examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with indolent CL confined to the skin should be followed primarily by clinical examination. However, in patients who are refractory to treatment regular screening of lymph nodes by ultrasound may enable earlier detection of disease recurrence or progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terhorst
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mestel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Humme
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase