Erythroderma and non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma: what else, apart from Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), are a rare condition characterised by specific histology, nodal presentation, and a poor prognosis. In total, 10-18% of patients present with cutaneous involvement which is regarded as a poor prognostic marker. However, cutaneous PTCL-NOS lesions have been rarely reported in the literature.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe PTCL-NOS cases characterised by erythrodermic dissemination to the skin.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Three cases of PTCL-NOS were investigated; all male, with a mean and median age of 55 and 51 years, respectively.

RESULTS: All patients underwent aggressive chemotherapeutic protocols with only transient improvement of the disease, and died within two years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Dermatologists should be reminded that erythroderma and lymph node enlargement do not represent an exclusive paradigm for erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and that these features can be due to a systemic lymphoma that should be considered in the differential diagnosis.