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Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2000 February;135(1):29-48

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Cutaneous lymphomas

Kamarashev J., Kempf W., Dummer R., Muller B., Burg G.

From the Department of Dermatology University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland

Cutaneous lymphomas represent monoclonal neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders, manifesting in the skin. The skin may be affected in the course of dissemination of nodal lymphomas but it may also be the primary site of tumor development. In contrast to the lymph node, T-cell lymphomas arise more often in the skin than B-cell lymphomas. Primary cutaneous lymphomas although bearing many morphologic similarities to their nodal counterparts differ significantly in regard to their biologic behavior and prognosis. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) have a slow but progressive course, which cannot be reversed by aggressive treatment. Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCL) are in their large majority indolent and self-limited lesions, which necessitate aggressive local but not systemic therapy. The routine application of sophisticated immunohistochemical and molecular-biologic techniques in recent years has significantly improved the diagnostic work-up of lymphoproliferative disorders. New immunotherapeutic and vaccination modalities are being currently developed, which will hopefully provide better opportunities for tumor management.