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Croci GA, Appio L, Cecchetti C, Tabano S, Alberti-Violetti S, Berti E, Rahal D, Cavallaro F, Onida F, Tomasini D, Todisco E. Primary cutaneous, epidermotropic mycosis fungoides-like presentation: critical appraisal and description of two novel cases, broadening the spectrum of ALK+ T-cell lymphoma. Virchows Arch 2024:10.1007/s00428-024-03832-6. [PMID: 38780617 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-024-03832-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Leading from a two-case series, including two patients receiving a diagnosis of epidermotropic T-cell lymphoma, featuring a mycosis fungoides (MF)-like clinical pattern and ALK expression and molecular alteration, we performed a critical appraisal of ALK+ primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (pcTCL). Considering our patients and the literature, 32 cases were retrieved, 7 of which featured an MF-like clinical picture over a 4-to-20-year period. MF-like cases show distinctive histology, comprising a predominantly epidermotropic infiltration of small-to-large, atypical-to-pleomorphic, with few anaplastic cells, negligible-to-intense CD30-expression, and a CD4+/cytotoxic granule+ phenotype. These features should prompt a search for ALK expression captured by the ALK D5F3 clone. Bona fide ALK+ pcTCL is very rare, and existent data suggest the presence of a broader pattern of disease, including instances mimicking MF and/or primary cutaneous CD8+ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma. The major challenges in dealing with this subset include prodromal phases, misinterpreted as inflammatory dermatosis or parapsoriasis/early phase MF both clinically and histologically, while recognition of its ALK-driven biology is hampered both by the unusual clinic-pathologic pattern of the disease, which stands apart from the classical (i.e., nodal) picture of ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma and by the low sensitivity of ALK1 clone. Data on its optimal management are far from being conclusive: An MF-like approach is currently chosen, but depending on CD30 and, most notably, ALK expression, a targeted therapy could be envisaged in advanced stages, as clinical response to ALK inhibition was documented in one patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Alberto Croci
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lorena Appio
- Division of Hematology, ASST ValleOlona Ospedale di Busto Arsizio, Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Caterina Cecchetti
- Division of Hematology, ASST ValleOlona Ospedale di Busto Arsizio, Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Silvia Tabano
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Alberti-Violetti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Dermatology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Berti
- Dermatology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Daoud Rahal
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cavallaro
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Onida
- Hematology Unit, ASST-Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Tomasini
- Division of Dermatology, ASST ValleOlona Ospedale di Busto Arsizio, Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Todisco
- Division of Hematology, ASST ValleOlona Ospedale di Busto Arsizio, Busto Arsizio, Italy
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Gru AA, Bhagat G, Subtil A, Raghavan SS, Pulitzer M, Chung C, Sangueza M, Plaza JA. Spindle-cell (Sarcomatoid) Variant of Cutaneous Anaplastic Large-cell Lymphoma (C-ALCL): An Unusual Mimicker of Cutaneous Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors-A Series of 11 Cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2021; 45:796-802. [PMID: 33234878 PMCID: PMC9555340 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (C-ALCL) represents one of the entities within the group of CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders of the skin. Most cases are ALK-negative, though isolated cases of ALK-positive C-ALCL have also been reported. By definition, the diagnosis of C-ALCL requires the expression of CD30 in >75% of the cells. Histopathologically, C-ALCL shows a dermal-based nodular and circumscribed proliferation of large pleomorphic cells with vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and eosinophilic cytoplasm, including hallmark cells. Since 1990, isolated case reports of a so-called "sarcomatoid" variant have been published in the literature. Herein, we present a series of 11 cases of spindle (sarcomatoid) C-ALCL, with comprehensive histopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular data. Spindle C-ALCL represents a potential mimicker of malignant mesenchymal or hematopoietic tumors in the skin and should always be considered in the differential diagnosis when assessing cutaneous pleomorphic spindle cell neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro A Gru
- Department of Pathology & Dermatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Govind Bhagat
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, NY
| | - Antonio Subtil
- Department of Pathology, Royal-Jubilee Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shyam S Raghavan
- Department of Pathology & Dermatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Melissa Pulitzer
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
| | - Catherine Chung
- Department of Pathology & Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Jose Antonio Plaza
- Department of Pathology & Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
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Song F, Yu S, Jia M, Gao H, Sun PL. Diagnostic Challenge of Sarcomatoid Variant of ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Case Report and Updated Systematic Literature Review. Int J Surg Pathol 2021; 29:658-666. [PMID: 33427000 DOI: 10.1177/1066896920986967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The sarcomatoid variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma is an extremely rare histologic pattern of anaplastic large cell lymphoma that consists of spindle-shaped neoplastic cells and is easily misdiagnosed as a soft tissue sarcoma. We report a case of the sarcomatoid variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma that was initially diagnosed as an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in our hospital and as liposarcoma after consultation. This article analyzed the features of this entity by reviewing the literature. Only 15 cases have been reported, most of which were misdiagnosed as sarcoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, or inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Most of the reported cases showed a myxoid stroma, with a variable number of inflammatory cells. The hallmark cells usually can be found by careful evaluation of the slides. Immunohistochemistry including CD30, EMA, and ALK are the most useful for diagnosis. Most are III or IV stage, and have a good prognosis after chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqin Song
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shili Yu
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Meng Jia
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Hongwen Gao
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ping-Li Sun
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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