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B‐cell lymphoma associated with chronic lymphatic leukaemia: two cases with contrasting aggressive and indolent behaviour
Author(s) -
RATNAVEL R.C.,
DUNNWALTERS D.K.,
BOURSIER L.,
FRAZERANDREWS E.,
ORCHARD G.,
RUSSELLJONES R.,
CALONJE E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02776.x
Subject(s) - cbcl , medicine , lymphoma , aggressive lymphoma , lymphatic system , pathology , gene rearrangement , gene , biology , rituximab , genetics , clinical psychology
The term Richter's syndrome is used to describe the transformation of chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) into a high‐grade systemic lymphoma and is associated with a poor prognosis. We have undertaken detailed molecular studies in two patients with cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma (CBCL) and CLL. Patient 1 exhibited a low‐grade CBCL with different immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in blood and skin. By contrast, patient 2 showed identical gene rearrangements, confirmed by gene sequencing, and died within 4 months of presentation. The latter patient fulfilled the criteria for a diagnosis of cutaneous Richter's syndrome, whereas the former patient demonstrated the coincidence of CLL with a primary CBCL. Our results highlight the importance of gene rearrangement studies with sequencing for the accurate diagnosis of cutaneous Richter's syndrome.