Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas: our experience with 22 cases

Abstract

Abstract
Background.Primary cutaneous B cell-lymphomas (PCBCL) are a group of lymphomas with clinical, prognostic, and therapeutic characteristics differing from nodal lymphomas. These facts determined that, in the last fi ve years, they were grouped as an independent entity.
Objective. To present the experience of our Dermatology Department as far as diagnosis, management and follow-up of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas are concerned, during the last eleven years
Design. Descriptive and retrospective study.
Materials and methods. 22 patients with diagnosis of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas were studied between 1995 and 2006, at the Dermatology Department, Policlínico Bancario.
Results. Our experience comprised 22 patients, of which 13 were follicle center B-cell lymphomas (59 percent), 4 were marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (18.18 percent), 2 were diff use large B-cell lymphomas (leg-type), 2 were diff use large B-cell lymphomas (other), and only 1 case was a mantle
cell lymphoma.
Conclusion. The last PCBCL classifi cation takes into account the clinical, therapeutic, histopathologic, and genetic aspects. This classifi cation optimizes dermatologist management of this pathology and enhances their relevance within the interdisciplinary group in charge of the follow-up. However,
a permanent updating must be considered that might include new changes in a not distant future

(Dermatol Argent 2008;14(1):35-45).

Key words: primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, PCBCL.