Subcutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia arising at site of ethnic scarificationsand mimicking subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma

The case of a 40-year-old black man, who developed a very unusual tumour-li ke lymphoid hyperplasia involving primarily the subcutaneous tissue, is rep orted. The lesion, which arose at a site of tribal scarifications, displaye d a deceptive morphology that closely resembled subcutaneous panniculitis-l ike T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL). An accurate diagnosis could only be made follo wing detailed immunohistochemical and molecular studies. Although SPTCL has been thought to represent a very specific clinicopathologic entity, the pr esent case illustrates that its histological appearance can, however, be cl osely mimicked by reactive and benign conditions.