High frequency of primary cutaneous lymphomas associated with lymphoproliferative disorders of different lineage

Ann Hematol. 2007 Jul;86(7):509-15. doi: 10.1007/s00277-007-0276-8. Epub 2007 Mar 6.

Abstract

In patients suffering from primary cutaneous lymphomas, secondary malignancies of various origin may develop. However, the frequency of a second neoplasm deriving from another lymphoid lineage is still unclear and may be underestimated. We screened all our patients with primary cutaneous lymphomas from a 4-year recruitment period for a coexisting secondary lymphoproliferative disorder. The cohort comprised of a total of 82 patients with primary cutaneous lymphomas, 62 with primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), 18 with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas, and two with CD4+/CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm/blastic lymphomas. Seven patients (8.5%) were identified with a coexisting lymphoma of a different lymphoid lineage. Four patients with Sézary syndrome (SS) suffered from systemic B-cell lymphoma. Two of these developed SS after chemotherapy of their B-cell lymphoma. The other three patients with various types of skin lymphomas (SS, Mycosis fungoides [MF], primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma) developed Hodgkin's disease (hairy cell leukemia). Our data indicate that patients with primary cutaneous lymphomas have an elevated risk for the development of a secondary lymphoproliferative disorder even without previous chemotherapy. Possible explanations for this association include a genetic predisposition, alterations in early progenitor cells, underlying viral infections, and/or stimulation of a B-cell clone by the malignant helper T cells of the primary CTCL and vice versa.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / complications*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / drug therapy
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / complications*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology*
  • Risk Factors