Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas – Clinicopathological, prognostic and therapeutic characterisation of 54 cases according to the WHO-EORTC classification and the ISCL/EORTC TNM classification system for primary cutaneous lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

Abstract

Clinical, prognostic and therapeutic features of 54 primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (pcMZL), follicle centre lymphoma (pcFCL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (pcDLBL) were analysed applying the WHO-EORTC classification for cutaneous lymphomas and the new TNM staging scheme of the International Society of Cutaneous Lymphomas. Solitary (T1) or regionally clustered (T2) tumors were observed in pcMZL and pcFCL. Disseminated tumors (T3 stage) were found in 26% of patients with pcMZL and in one patient with pcDLBL. A complete remission was achieved in 41% of the patients. Three of 7 patients (43%) with pcDLBL died due to lymphoma. The new TNM staging system is easily applicable for disease documentation, but our relatively small number of patients in each T stage does not allow the assessment of its prognostic value. Surgical excision or radiotherapy is highly effective in pcMZL and pcFCL.

Keywords:

• Cutaneous
• lymphoma
• B cell
• staging
• therapy