Co-existence of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and B hairy cell leukemia

A primary cutaneous form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and a low gra de B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that was classified as a variant of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) were simultaneously diagnosed in a 79-year-old woman by both phenotypic and genotypic analyses. The coexistence of a T- and B-cell lymphoma in the same patient is rare, and, to our knowledge, this particul ar association has not been previously described. The patient was referred to our Department for evaluation of multiple cutaneous itchy, reddish plaqu es; laboratory analyses disclosed a lymphocytosis, that presented 6 years e arlier. A bone marrow aspirate showed a 50% B-cell interstitial infiltrate, while a skin biopsy surprisingly revealed a PTCL, Clonality of both neopla stic processes was assessed by Southern blot analysis. The indolent clinica l course of the cutaneous disease, and the low and stable number of circula ting neoplastic T cells supported the diagnosis of a mycosis fungoides (MF) -like PTCL, Possible oncogenic events and/or putative underlying viral infe ctions which could have played a role in the occurrence of B- and T-cell no n-Hodgkin's lymphomas in the same patient are discussed. (C) 2000 Wiley-Lis s, Inc.