Chronic Radiation Dermatitis Secondary to Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Therapy in a Patient With Primary Cutaneous CD8 + T-Cell Lymphoma With Cytotoxic Granules

ABSTRACT

Conventional therapies for CD8 + cutaneous T-cell lymphoma include topical steroids, topical nitrogen mustard, topical bexarotene, ultraviolet B therapy, psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy, local radiotherapy, and interferon alfa; however, these treatments are often found to be ineffective. Presented is a case of CD8 + cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with near-complete response to narrow-band ultraviolet therapy because of chronic radiation dermatitis initially believed to be possible progression of a CD8 + cutaneous epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma.

Double CD4/CD8-Positive, Nonpoikilodermic Mycosis Fungoides Expressing CD56 in a Young Man

ABSTRACT

We report a case of mycosis fungoides (MF) in an 18-year-old man whose neoplastic T cells expressed CD4, CD8, and CD56, with no evidence of TCR-delta or Epstein-Barr virus (EBER) expression. Clinically, neither hypopigmentation nor hyperpigmentation nor poikilodermatous skin lesions were present, and the lesions subsided with oral corticoids and retinoids and environmental solar ultraviolet exposure. Our case represents the oldest patient reported so far with nonpoikilodermatous, CD8/CD56 MF and adds to the phenotypic diversity of MF in the pediatric population. This distinct phenotype does not seem to be linked to a more aggressive course than the classic CD-4 positive one.

Transformed Mycosis Fungoides with a Cytotoxic T-Cell Phenotype

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and occasionally undergo large cell transformation (transformed MF, TMF), resulting in a poorer clinical outcome. We describe a case of TMF with an immunophenotypic shift. MF showed the CD4 + CD8- T-cell phenotype, while TMF exhibited the CD4-CD8 + T-cell phenotype. Moreover, TMF expressed cytotoxic markers of TIA1 and Granzyme B. A PCR analysis of T-cell receptor genes revealed peak sizes that were the same in both biopsies, indicating that these two lymphomas were derived from the same clone.

A Comprehensive Update of the Atypical, Rare and Mimicking Presentations of Mycosis Fungoides

Introduction

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most frequent subtype of primary cutaneous T cell lymphomas (pCTCL). The diagnosis may be particularly difficult in the early stages as well as in atypical and rare clinical presentations. Furthermore, MF may simulate a large variety of common dermatologic disorders and patterns, both histopathologically and clinically.

Methods

A literature search was performed to provide a comprehensive update on the rare and atypical MF manifestations as well as the dermatoses and dermatological patterns that could be imitated by MF.

Results

A total of 114 publications were found describing a series of different dermatoses and dermatological patterns mimicked by MF, as well as some particular localizations of MF lesions and dermatoses that occur in preexisting MF lesions.

Conclusions

The number of dermatoses that can be imitated by MF is ever-increasing. Patients with common dermatologic conditions that prove to be treatment refractory should be biopsied without delay, and sequentially as necessary, to prevent delay in diagnosis and progression of disease. Clinicopathologic correlation is the best way of diagnosis.

[Clinical heterogeneity of poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides: A retrospective study of 12 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides is a rare and indolent clinical variant of mycosis fungoides (MF). It can be difficult to distinguish from poikilodermatous parapsoriasis, a group of chronical dermatoses that may sometimes progress to MF. We aimed to specify the clinical, histopathological and developmental features of these entities by means of a retrospective study of 12 cases followed in our center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified cases of poikiloderma for which a diagnosis of MF or parapsoriasis was made by the physician. Photographs and histological slides were reviewed, and a final diagnosis of MF was made if the International Society for Cutaneous Lymphoma criteria for the diagnosis of early MF were fulfilled.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were included, 10 of whom met of the MF criteria. 5 patients had large poikilodermatous patches or thin, well-defined plaques ; 3 patients had the same lesions associated with classical MF lesions ; finally, 4 patients had widespread ill-defined erythematous lesions in a net-like pattern, described as parakeratosis variegata, including 3 MF. 2 patients with well-defined lesions (one associated with classical MF lesions) progressed to the tumoral stage whereas none of the patients with parakeratosis variegata presented such progression. A total of 5 patients had a high skin phototype (IV and V). Two patients had squamous cell carcinoma on poikilodermatous lesions.

DISCUSSION

Our study suggests that poikilodermatous MF covers a heterogeneous clinical spectrum comprising on one hand a presentation of delimited lesions sharing classical MF risk of progression, and on the other, an entity similar to parakeratosis variegata, an entity overlooked in the French nomenclature, which was particularly benign in our small series, raising the question of its affiliation to the MF group. This question merits further investigation in a larger-scale study.

Poikilodermatous Mycosis Fungoides: Comparative Study of Clinical, Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Features

BACKGROUND

Poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides (pMF) is characterized by poikiloderma areas, typically involving the major flexural areas and trunk. Its presentation can be generalized or admixed with other forms of MF. Previous studies fail to correlate the clinical presentation with prognosis and laboratory findings. Some reports show pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC) preceding the poikiloderma.

OBJECTIVES

Correlate prognostic, histopathological and molecular aspects of pMF with its clinical presentation.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 14 cases of generalized pMF (GpMF), 22 of localized pMF (LpMF) and 17 of pMF admixed with other forms of MF (mix-pMF).

RESULTS

Female predominance and lower age at diagnosis was found in all groups compared to classic MF, a high prevalence of PLC-like lesions in the GpMF group and a high rate of hypopigmented lesions in the mix-pMF group. There were 2 deaths within the GpMF group. Histology was similar to previously reported findings, as was the prevalence of CD4 T-cell infiltrate, compared to CD8. The T-cell clonality positivity was lower in the GpMF group, compared to other groups (27% GpMF, 80% LpMF and 100% mix-pMF).

DISCUSSION

This is the first article to categorize the different forms of pMF and correlate them with clinical and laboratory findings. The dermatological presentation differs among the groups. There was a high frequency of PLC-like lesions within the GpMF group and of hypopigmented lesions in mix-pMF. The histological and immunohistochemical findings were similar to those previously reported. Aggressive treatments are not recommended due to the good prognosis of all pMF forms. The low positivity of T-cell clonality in the GpMF group should be investigated.

Unusual variants of mycosis fungoides

Conventional presentations of mycosis fungoides may be diagnostically challenging, particularly in light of the controversial boundaries defining the disease. Variant presentations of this cutaneous T-cell lymphoma add a further layer of complexity, requiring a sophisticated and informed perspective when evaluating lymphoid infiltrates in the skin. Herein we discuss well-defined (WHO-EORTC) variants pagetoid reticulosis, granulomatous slack skin and folliculotropic mycosis fungoides as well as less well-defined morphologic/architectural variants, and divergent immunohistochemical presentations of this typically indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disease.

Aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous CD8+ lymphoma: a cutaneous lymphoma with distinct clinical and pathological features. Report of an EORTC Cutaneous Lymphoma Task Force Workshop

AIMS

Aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous CD8(+) lymphoma is currently afforded provisional status in the WHO classification of lymphomas. An EORTC Workshop was convened to describe in detail the features of this putative neoplasm and evaluate its nosological status with respect to other cutaneous CD8(+) lymphomas.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixty-one CD8(+) cases were analysed at the workshop; clinical details, often with photographs, histological sections, immunohistochemical results, treatment and patient outcome were discussed and recorded. Eighteen cases had distinct features and conformed to the diagnosis of aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous CD8(+) lymphoma. The patients typically present with widespread plaques and tumours, often ulcerated and haemorrhagic, and histologically have striking pagetoid epidermotrophism. A CD8(+) /CD45RA(+) /CD45RO(-) /CD2(-) /CD5(-) /CD56(-) phenotype, with one or more cytotoxic markers, was found in seven of 18 patients, with a very similar phenotype in the remainder. The tumours seldom involve lymph nodes, but mucosal and central nervous system involvement are not uncommon. The prognosis is poor, with a median survival of 12 months. Examples of CD8(+) mycosis fungoides, lymphomatoid papulosis and Woringer-Kolopp disease presented the typical features well documented in the CD4(+) forms of those diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous CD8(+) lymphoma is a distinct lymphoma that warrants inclusion as a distinct entity in future revisions of lymphoma classifications.

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma presenting as mycosis fungoides with a T-/null-cell phenotype: report of two cases

Variations in the clinical and histological presentation of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) can hamper diagnosis. We report two cases of a novel presentation of CTCL characterized by an aberrant immunophenotype with complete loss of pan T-cell antigens including T-cell receptor β chain and showing the clinical and histopathological appearance of erythrodermic and plaque-stage mycosis fungoides.