Indolent primary cutaneous γ/δ T-cell lymphoma localized to the subcutaneous panniculus and its association with atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis.
The 2005 classification of lymphoma proposed the designation of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma exclusively for those tumors composed of α/β neoplastic cells. Subcutaneous lymphomas that comprised γ/δ T cells are termed primary cutaneous γ/δ T-cell lymphoma. The different clinical outcomes justified this separation; a more indolent course was characteristic of the α/β variants vs the poor 5-year survival of the γ/δ forms. We describe 5 patients with γ/δ T-cell lymphoma localized to the subcutis with a less aggressive clinical course. Two patients were alive 5 years after presentation, and in the remaining 3, the disease is in complete remission after simple intervention. Three patients had a waxing and waning phase, likely representing a prelymphomatous phase, which then progressed to an overt malignant tumor. Therefore, it is important to recognize that not all patients with γ/δ T-cell lymphomas have a poor prognosis.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Room F-309, 1300 York Ave, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA. cym2003@med.cornell.edu
Cynthia M
CM
Magro
Xuan
X
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta