[Homogeneous clinical behavior of a group of cutaneous B-cell lymphomas].

PURPOSE

To assess the non-cutaneous involvement in primary B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the skin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from 45 patients with B-cell NHL of the skin were retrospectively analysed. The patients were diagnosed on histologic and immunocytochemical grounds between June 1977 and July 1993, and 14 cases were selected for their exclusively cutaneous initial involvement. Initial treatment, response to therapy, disease-free survival characteristics of relapse and therapeutic sequence were evaluated in every case.

RESULTS

Cutaneous involvement presented as nodules or patches, on a single location, in 12 cases, or disseminated, in 2 others. No prognostic factor could be identified, and complete remission was attained in all cases. Cutaneous relapse was seen in 7 patients after 4 to 108 months since diagnosis. Extracutaneous dissemination was not seen in any case, and 13 patients are alive and disease-free. A 90 year-old woman died of toxic complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical facts reported here confirm the not too aggressive behaviour of certain B-cell cutaneous NHL, probably related with their origin on the skin itself.