Lymphomes cutanés à cellules de phénotype NK et/ou cytotoxique

A case of primary cutaneous nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma subtypes are now better identified thanks to progress in immunohistochemistry. This article describes a new case of primary cutaneous natural killer/T-cell lymphoma of nasal type (NKTL-NT) and reviews 18 other cases of this rare neoplasm.

CASE REPORT

A 79-year-old man presented with a 3-cm nodular tumor of the left leg occurring on a primary chronic lymphedema of the legs. The lesion was CD56+, CD3 intracytoplasmic+, CD45+ and Epstein-Barr virus+. A comprehensive workup including CT scan and bone marrow biopsy was negative and a diagnosis of NKTL-NT with a primary cutaneous involvement was made. The patient was free of disease under multi-agent chemotherapy after 24 months of follow-up.

DISCUSSION

After reviewing 18 other cases of primary cutaneous NKTL-NT, we conclude that the prognosis of these lymphomas is usually poor. However, limited cutaneous forms have a longer median survival than extracutaneous variants.

Lymphome T cutané épidermotrope cytotoxique CD8+ « agressif » : difficultés de prise en charge chez un malade atteint d’une dystrophie myotonique de Steinert

INTRODUCTION

Primary cutaneous "aggressive" CD8-positive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma is a rare subset of cutaneous cytotoxic T/NK lymphomas that clearly differs from mycosis fungoides, whether CD4+ or CD8+, by the presence of rapidly evolving tumoral cutaneous lesions, foci of keratinocytes necrosis, a cytotoxic T phenotype and a poor prognosis.

CASE REPORT

A 33-year-old man with Steinert's myotonic dystrophy was referred for evaluation of rapidly worsening cutaneous tumors along with marked deterioration of general status. Clinical, histological and immunohistological data led to the diagnosis of primary cutaneous CD8+ epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma. CHOP chemotherapy was effective despite cardiac toxicity in the setting of Steinert's dystrophy, but the patient relapsed and died of pulmonary sepsis after chemotherapy was resumed.

DISCUSSION

The treatment of primary cutaneous epidermotropic CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma is not codified. CHOP chemotherapy is usually the first-line therapy but relapses are frequent with median survival of no more than 34 months. In our patient, an additional difficulty was the cardiac toxicity of cytostatic drugs linked to the myopathy which prevented the use of high dosages, requiring a change of therapeutic regimen.