SUBCUTANEOUS T-CELL LYMPHOMA - REPORT OF 2 ADDITIONAL CASES AND FURTHER OBSERVATIONS

Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas involving subcutaneous tissue are rare. With modern immunohistochemical stains, subcutaneous T-cell lymphomas may be demonstrated in patients previously thought to have f atal Weber-Christian disease, malignant histiocytosis, and histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis. Observations: We describe two young women wi th subcutaneous lymphomas. They presented with erythematous nodular le sions, which suggested benign panniculitis. Skin biopsy specimens in b oth patients demonstrated large atypical lymphocytes in the subcutaneo us tissue, karyorrhexis, and cytophagia. Immunohistochemical studies c onfirmed a T-cell phenotype. Molecular genetics studies performed in o ne patient showed a major T-cell clonal population. Conclusions: Subcu taneous T-cell lymphoma is a rare, distinct subtype of postthymic peri pheral T-cell lymphoma. Cytophagic ''histiocytic'' panniculitis is fre quently a prominent histologic feature. Early systemic chemotherapy ma y offer therapeutic advantages in patients with this disease.