Post-transplant cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology 2005-10, Vol.56 (1), p.137-145
• Main Authors: Lok, C., Viseux, V., Denoeux, J.P., Bagot, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Immunosuppressive therapy; Lymphoma; Lymphoma, B-Cell - etiology; Lymphoma, B-Cell - pathology; Lymphoma, B-Cell - virology; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - etiology; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - pathology; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - therapy; Organ Transplantation; Skin Neoplasms - etiology; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - therapy; Transplant recipient
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2004.12.012

Post-transplant cutaneous lymphomas are rare. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas account for 30% of these lymphomas. The clinical appearance of the skin lesions is identical to cutaneous lymphomas observed in non-immunosuppressed patients, with infiltrated plaques, nodular and ulcerated tumors, but with an increased frequency of erythroderma. Standard histology and immunohistochemistry are also consistent with the features of mycosis fungoides and CD30+ cutaneous lymphomas observed in the general population. However, the pronostic differs from the usually favourable outcome of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, as 8 out of the 13 patients of our series died, in less than 1 year for 6 of them. This unfavourable course appears to be the same as that observed for systemic T-cell lymphoma in transplant recipients. In contrast to post-transplant B-cell lymphomas (systemic and primary cutaneous), the link to a virus has not been demonstrated. The prognosis is also less favourable for post-transplant cutaneous T-cell lymphomas than for post-transplant cutaneous B-cell lymphomas.