Case for diagnosis

Abstracts

Paciente do sexo masculino de 55 anos com placas e nódulos infiltrados exuberantes em membro inferior esquerdo há seis meses. Cardiopatia, nefropatia e endocrinopatia associadas. O exame histopatológico, acrescido da imunoistoquímica, confirma linfoma cutâneo difuso de células B. Marcadores CD-20, CD-79a e Ki-67 foram positivos. A quimioterapia com ciclofosfamida, adriamicina e vincristina promoveu remissão parcial

Imunoistoquímica; Linfoma anaplásico cutâneo primário de células grandes; Perna (Organismo); Pernas

WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?

^IDermatology degree from the University of Brasilia, Harvard University Fellowship. Private clinic: Dermatologic - Brasilia (DF), Brazil

^IIProfessor at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Trakian Medical University of Stara Zagora, Medical University of Sofia - Sofia, Bulgaria

Mailing address

ABSTRACT

A fifty-five year old Caucasian male presented with infiltrated plaques and nodules on the left leg. The lesions had been present for 6 months. He presented associated cardiopathy, nephropathy and endocrinopathy. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous diffuse B cell lymphoma. CD 20, CD 79a and Ki-67 were positive. Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and vincristine promoted partial remission.

Keywords: Immunohistochemistry; Leg; Lymphoma, Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell; Perna

CASE REPORT

A 55-year-old Caucasian male patient presents with painful plaques on the left leg, which had been present for 6 months, and recent inguinal swelling. He presented cardiopathy (atrial fibrillation), nephropathy (decompensated chronic renal failure) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with polyneuropathy. He was treated with intravenous ciprofloxacin and local care when admitted to the Clinic of Internal Medicine under the hypothesis of erysipelas. No response was observed.

Referred to the Department of Dermatology, infiltrated plaques and erythematous-violaceous nodules associated with edema of the left leg were observed (Figure 1). Palpable bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. A CBC revealed mild lymphopenia, with a population of B and T lymphocytes slightly decreased and T/NK lymphocytes slightly increased. Bone marrow aspiration did not reveal neoplastic lymphoid cells and immunophenotyping showed no monoclonal B or T cells. Histopathology of skin lesions revealed dense infiltrate of neoplastic lymphoid cells (Figures 2 and 3). Immunohistochemistry was positive for CD 20, CD 79 a and Ki-67 in 80% of the cells. Imaging examinations (x-ray and tomography) revealed an increase in bilateral inguinal, axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes; lymphadenopathy was considered nonspecific. In the Department of Oncology, chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and vincristine was initiated. After two cycles, there was partial remission of the lesions.

DISCUSSION

Considering the clinical presentation, confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemical examination of the skin lesions, we are facing a case of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma - leg type. Unlike T lymphomas, the origin of a B-cell lymphoma in the skin is almost always subject to doubt: is it a primary cutaneous process or lymphomatous infiltration of the skin from undiagnosed node or visceral neoplasm? In this case, the presence of inguinal, axillary and mediastinal lymphadenopathy raises this question.

Regarding the classification of lymphomas, subject of much discussion, the recommended one is that adopted in the WHO-EORTC (World Health Organization-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) consensus, which covers clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and molecular aspects. ² This consensus was published in the WHO Blue Book in 2005 and subdivides the primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas into: primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma/ primary cutanous marginal zone lymphoma/ primary cutaneous diffuse large Bcell lymphoma - leg type/ primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - others/ primary cutaneous intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. In this case, it is large B-cell lymphoma, leg type. Based on the definition of "primary cutaneous", there should be no extracutaneous clinical manifestations for 6 months after primary diagnosis in the skin.³

B-cell lymphomas account for 20-25% of the primary cutaneous lymphomas. According to the EORTC, there is a slight prevalence in males, with a median age of 59 years at diagnosis. Clinically, they present as papules or nodules of monomorphic appearance. As for the specific subtype of primary large cells - leg type, it usually affects elderly women. A histopathological examination may show reactive lymphoid follicles resembling germinal centers, thus complicating the differential diagnosis of pseudolymphoma. Immunohistochemistry is essential to the diagnosis and positive CD 20, CD 79 and Ki 67 markers in 80% of the analyzed cells support the B-cell lineage. 5 In the differentiation of T lymphocytes, CD 3 and CD 45RO markers would be positive.

As for the prognosis, survival ranges from 36% to 100% in 5 years. The involvement of both lower limbs or the presence of multiple lesions confer worse future prospect. The treatment of choice is chemotherapy, with frequent relapses in the case of multiple initial lesions. When there is a single lesion, radiotherapy can be considered. Systemic use of anti-CD20 antibody (Rituximab^®) alone or in combination with chemotherapy appears to improve survival of patients.⁶

REFERENCES

• 1. Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 2. ed. São Paulo: Artes Médicas, 2001. p. 900.
• 2. Shaikh AJ, Masood N, Ahsan A, Memon W. Primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma--leg type (NEW EORTC--WHO classification), with nasal sinuses involvement. Pak Med Assoc. 2008;58:274-6.
• 3. Willemze R, Kerl H, Sterry W, Berti E, Cerroni L, Chimenti S, et al. EORTC classification for primary cutaneous lymphomas: a proposal from the Cutaneous Lymphoma Study Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. Blood. 1997;90:354-71.
• 4. Burg G, Kerl H, Schmoeckel C. Differentiation between malignant B-cell lymphomas and pseudolymphomas of the skin. J Dermatol Oncol. 1984;10:271-5.
• 5. Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pober JS. Lymphocyte maturation and expression of antigen receptor genes. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders; 2000. p.125-60.
• 6. Moricz CZM, Sanches Júnior JA. Processos linfoproliferativos da pele. Parte 1. Linfomas cutâneos de células B. An Bras Dermatol. 2005;80:461-71.

Case for diagnosis

Cristina Paula Salaro^I; Georgi Tchernev^II

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Sept 2011
• Date of issue
  Aug 2011

History

• Received
  19 Sept 2010
• Accepted
  26 Oct 2010