The clinicopathologic spectrum of cytotoxic lymphomas of the skin

Cytotoxic lymphomas of the skin comprise a spectrum of peripheral T cell an d natural killer cell lymphomas with primary or secondary skin manifestatio ns. They comprise a broad, heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disor ders, and are characterized by expression of cytotoxic proteins (TIA-1, gra nzyme A and B, and perforin). These lymphomas often show an aggressive clin ical course. In this article a detailed description of clinical, histopatho logic, immunohistochemical, and molecular characteristics of cutaneous cyto toxic lymphomas follows a brief introduction on cytotoxic lymphocytes. Copy right (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.