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Practice

Cutaneous lymphoma or benign lesion?

Victoria Cook and Grace Kho
CMAJ May 15, 2012 184 (8) 917; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.111569
Victoria Cook
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  • For correspondence: vcook@ualberta.ca
Grace Kho
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A 66-year-old man presented with an erythematous nodule on the distal ulnar aspect of his forearm, consistent with a pyogenic granuloma on inspection. The lesion had grown in diameter from 5 mm to 30 mm over a few months, was nonulcerated and expressed a small amount of serous fluid (Figure 1A). He reported a 30-year history of similar lesions that had spontaneously resolved. Biopsy results from previous lesions had been consistent with inflamed seborrheic keratosis. Complete excisional biopsy of the current lesion showed a regressing CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorder with pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia (Figure 1B). We referred our patient to a lymphoma clinic for staging and treatment. Bone marrow biopsy and computed tomography (CT) of his neck, thorax, abdomen and pelvis were normal. No further treatment was required after the initial surgical excision; however, the patient was advised to return for routine surveillance. A subsequent biopsy of a new lesion showed similar features and lymphomatoid papulosis was diagnosed.

Figure 1:
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Figure 1:

(A) Erythematous nodule on the forearm of a 66-year-old man. (B) Photomicrograph of the biopsy specimen showing CD30 positivity in large cells, consistent with lymphomatoid papulosis (original magnification × 200).

Although lymphomatoid papulosis is rare, with an estimated incidence of one to two instances per million,1 the solitary erythematous dome-shaped papules that occasionally characterize it can mimic numerous common skin conditions, including pyogenic granuloma. Lymphomatoid papulosis may also present with multiple lesions, which may be confused with reactions to insect bites and folliculitis.2 These lesions must undergo excisional biopsy for accurate evaluation. Lymphomatoid papulosis is part of a spectrum of CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders. It presents as spontaneously regressing papules and nodules that recur over decades. Because lymphoma develops in 10%–19% of patients, regular surveillance is required.3

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Dr. Alan Cook for his contributions to the article.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

  • This article has been peer reviewed.

References

  1. ↵
    1. LeBoit PE,
    2. Burg G,
    3. Weedon D,
    4. et al.
    , editors. World Health Organization classification of tumours. Pathology & genetics — skin tumors. Lyon (France): IARC Press; 2006.
  2. ↵
    1. Liu HL,
    2. Hoppe RT,
    3. Kohler S,
    4. et al
    . CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders: the Stanford experience in lymphomatoid papulosis and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:1049–58.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  3. ↵
    1. Bekkenk MW,
    2. Geelen FAMJ,
    3. van Voorst Vader PC,
    4. et al
    . Primary and secondary cutaneous CD30(+) lymphoproliferative disorders: a report from the Dutch Cutaneous Lymphoma Group on the long-term follow-up data of 219 patients and guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. Blood 2000;95:3653–61.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
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Canadian Medical Association Journal: 184 (8)
CMAJ
Vol. 184, Issue 8
15 May 2012
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Cutaneous lymphoma or benign lesion?
Victoria Cook, Grace Kho
CMAJ May 2012, 184 (8) 917; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.111569

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Cutaneous lymphoma or benign lesion?
Victoria Cook, Grace Kho
CMAJ May 2012, 184 (8) 917; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.111569
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