Diagnostic and prognostic value of BCL2 rearrangement in 53 patients with follicular lymphoma presenting as primary skin lesions.

OBJECTIVES

To study the diagnostic value of BCL2 rearrangement in follicle center lymphoma (FCL) presenting as primary skin lesions, evaluate its prevalence and the prognostic value in primary cutaneous FCL (PCFCL), and assess prognostic factors in PCFCL.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with a cutaneous presentation of FCL without a history of nodal lymphoma were selected retrospectively. Clinical and histologic data were collected together with staging and follow-up data. A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test for BCL2 split probes was performed on skin biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

Initial staging procedures identified 47 PCFCLs and six cases of secondary skin involvement of FCL (SSIFCL). FISH detected seven cases carrying a BCL2 rearrangement: four (8.5%) of 47 PCFCLs and three (50%) of six SSIFCLs. These seven cases coexpressed BCL2 and CD10. In PCFCL, cutaneous relapse rate was 42.6%. A small/medium centrocytic cell population was associated with a higher probability of skin relapse in univariate (P = .008) and multivariate (P = .028) analysis, and BCL2 rearrangement detection was associated with secondary extracutaneous spreading (P = .05).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that BCL2 rearrangement in PCFCL is rare, associated with initial positivity of staging (diagnostic value) or with secondary extracutaneous spreading (prognostic value). In selected cases with BCL2-CD10 coexpression, FISH testing could detect patients with poor outcome and require closer monitoring.