Cutaneous lymphocytomas: clinical and histological aspects

Abstract

25 cases of cutaneous lymphocytoma were reviewed, of which 13 were benign lymphocytoma of the skin and 15 lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner). The clinical diagnosis benign lymphocytoma of the skin was in agreement with the histology, except in 2 patients where lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner) was the most likely clinical diagnosis. Of the 15 patients treated, 8 went into complete remission and 5 into partial remission. Eight patients suffered a relapse after partial and complete remission. The duration of the follow-up period varied between 2 months and 22 years. The histological diagnosis lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner) tallied in 9 patients with the clinical diagnosis, whereas in 6 patients the clinical diagnosis was benign lymphocytoma or pseudolymphoma. None of the patients developed systemic malignancy within the lymphoreticular system. A suspicious-looking skin lesion should always require further examination in order to exclude cutaneous manifestations of a systemic malignant lymphoreticular disease. The present histologic review demonstrates some uncertainty in diagnosing cutaneous lymhocytomas.1