Systemic corticosteroids for subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Primary cutaneous γ/δ T-cell lymphoma (PCGD-TCL) is aggressive and has a poor prognosis. In contrast, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) of the α/β T-cell receptor phenotype is known to follow an indolent course and have a more favourable prognosis. In the past, PCGD-TCL and SPTCL were often considered to be a manifestation of the same disease, and aggressive systemic polychemotherapy has commonly been the first-line therapy for both. Given the understanding that SPTCL is a separate and less aggressive entity, clinical data exclusively evaluating the efficacy of conservative treatment in SPTCL are needed.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the overall clinical response to systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of SPTCL.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study based on a patient data repository from two tertiary care university hospitals in Zürich (Switzerland) and Tübingen (Germany). The repository spanned 13 years.


RESULTS
In four of the five patients (80%) with SPTCL, treatment with systemic corticosteroids induced a complete remission.


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic corticosteroids may be an excellent first-line single-agent therapy for SPTCL.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Gloriastraße 31, Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Liebermeisterstrasse 25, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
E
E
Guenova
S
S
Schanz
W
W
Hoetzenecker
J A
JA
DeSimone
T
T
Mehra
B
B
Voykov
M
M
Urosevic-Maiwald
M
M
Berneburg
R
R
Dummer
L E
LE
French
K
K
Kerl
J
J
Kamarashev
G
G
Fierlbeck
A
A
Cozzio
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D011239:Prednisolone