
The description of primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma has raised interest in the differential diagnosis of this versus disseminated follicular lymphoma involving the skin. We report here on four cases of Stage IV follicular lymphoma, diagnosed in skin biopsy, in which cutaneous lesion was the most noticeable feature of clinical presentation. In all cases, the morphological features were superimposed over typical nodal follicular lymphoma. Apart from classic B-cell markers, they were characterized by CD10 and bcl6 positivity, markers of follicle germinal center cells; and bcl2 expression, with a corresponding t(14;18) translocation in three of three cases examined. In all four cases, bone marrow study and clinical staging revealed disease that had disseminated since diagnosis. Follow-up showed relapsing cutaneous and nodal disease in two cases. The only difference observed with a control group of 10 cases of primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma was the absence in this group of t(14; 18). Disseminated classical follicular lymphoma has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of follicular lymphoma presenting in the skin. This series of cases suggests that the presence of t(14;18) could imply the existence of disease that has disseminated beyond the skin and that cases harboring this translocation could be candidates for systemic polychemotherapy.
Adult, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14, Male, Skin Neoplasms, Middle Aged, Antigens, CD20, Immunohistochemistry, Translocation, Genetic, DNA-Binding Proteins, Ki-67 Antigen, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6, Humans, Neprilysin, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18, Lymphoma, Follicular, Aged, Transcription Factors
Adult, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14, Male, Skin Neoplasms, Middle Aged, Antigens, CD20, Immunohistochemistry, Translocation, Genetic, DNA-Binding Proteins, Ki-67 Antigen, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6, Humans, Neprilysin, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18, Lymphoma, Follicular, Aged, Transcription Factors
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 27 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
