Small Cell Variant Of Cd30+ Primary Cutaneous T‐cell Lymphoma With Epidermotropism That Completely Regressed After Incisional Skin Biopsy

Abstract

Conflicts of interest: none declared. Sir, CD30+ primary cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCLs) without anaplastic large lymphoid cytology are extremely rare, especially with epidermotropism.1 In the literature we found few reports of primary CTCL predominantly composed of CD30+ small‐ to medium‐sized lymphoma cells.1, 2 We report on two patients with small cell CD30+ primary CTCL without anaplastic large cell phenotype. CD30+ atypical lymphoid cells showed epidermotropism, i.e. these cells were present not only in the dermis but also in the epidermis singly and in clusters. These tumours regressed completely after incisional skin biopsy. These two cases indicate that even primary CTCLs without anaplastic large cell cytology should be immunohistochemically examined for the expression of CD30 because CD30+ lymphomas have a significantly favourable prognosis when they are confined to the skin. Patient 1. In July 2003, a 32‐year‐old woman presented with an asymptomatic erythematous nodule on her right cheek (Fig. 1a). It had progressively enlarged over 1·5 months. The diameter of the nodule was 1·5 cm at presentation. No other similar lesions were noticed on other areas of the skin, and lymph nodes were not palpable.