Lymphomatoid papulosis: a follow-up study.

A follow-up study has been performed on 16 patients with lymphomatoid papulosis diagnosed at the Finsen Institute during the years 1970-81. In none of the patients did malignant lymphoma develop during the observation period (7 months to 22 years). During this period the nature of the lesions and the tendency to recurrence were unchanged in 11 patients, spontaneous remission took place in 4, and 1 patient went into complete remission after PUVA treatment (8-methoxsalen followed by UVA). The histological material (32 punch biopsies) could be divided into two major groups diagnosed as either typical (16 biopsies) or consistent with lymphomatoid papulosis (16 biopsies). Based on our present knowledge, we suggest the following classification of lymphomatoid papulosis: 1) "classical" lymphomatoid papulosis, 2) lymphomatoid papulosis associated with parapsoriasis en plaque or mycosis fungoides and 3) primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.