Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2005-09, Vol.53 (3), p.479-484
• Main Authors: BOGLE, Melissa A, RIDDLE, Christy C, TRIANA, Emily M, JONES, Dan, DUVIC, Madeleine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Borrelia burgdorferi; Comorbidity; Cyclophosphamide - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Doxorubicin - therapeutic use; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - epidemiology; Female; Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lyme Disease - epidemiology; Lymphoma, B-Cell - diagnosis; Lymphoma, B-Cell - drug therapy; Lymphoma, B-Cell - epidemiology; Lymphoma, B-Cell - metabolism; Lymphoma, Follicular; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - diet therapy; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Vincristine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas include extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma, and, rarely, mantle cell lymphoma. Our purpose in conducting this review was to determine the clinical and behavioral characteristics of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas, their relationship to infectious triggers, and therapeutic response. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 23 adult patients presenting to the dermatology clinic at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma between January 1999 and May 2003. Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas generally present on the head and neck, with the trunk and extremities afflicted to a lesser extent. Patients were found to have serologic evidence of prior infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (n = 10), Helicobacter pylori (n = 5), and Epstein-Barr virus (n = 6). Overall, treatment of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma should involve multiple modalities; however, specific treatment aimed at concurrent or suspected infection, particularly B burgdorferi, is a helpful adjunct and may achieve complete remission in a small subset of patients.