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Epidermotropic CD8+ cytotoxic T‐cell lymphoma exhibiting a transition from the indolent to the aggressive phase, accompanied by emergence of CD7+ cells and formation of neutrophilic pustules
Author(s) -
Ito Y.,
Goto M.,
Hatano Y.,
Kawamoto M.,
Ohishi M.,
Takayasu S.,
Katagiri K.,
Fujiwara S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2011.04160.x
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , lymphoma , cd8 , medicine , cancer research , pathology , immunology , biology , antigen , genetics , in vitro
Summary A 47‐year‐old‐man presented with rashes on his trunk and limbs, and a diagnosis of parapsoriasis was made. Ten years later, the rashes had progressed gradually to form plaques and tumours. Gene rearrangement studies revealed monoclonality of the T‐cell receptor β‐chain (TCR‐Jβ)1 gene, and results of flow cytometry and immunohistochemical examination confirmed a diagnosis of epidermotropic CD8+ cytotoxic T‐cell lymphoma. The clinical course of the disease remained indolent for some time, but about 2 years later, neutrophilic pustules formed on the surface of the skin lesions, and tumours developed in the patient’s testes. Using flow cytometry, emergence of CD7+ cells was found. The patient died the following year of respiratory failure due to brain herniation. On postmortem examination, CD8+ tumour cells were found in the brain. This case demonstrates an unusually protracted indolent phase in a patient with cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic CD8+ cytotoxic T‐cell lymphoma; its transition into the aggressive phase was accompanied by emergence of CD7+ cells and formation of neutrophilic pustules.