Cutaneous monomorphous CD4- and CD56-positive large-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Recently, CD56 (NCAM)-positive lymphomas, such as nasal and nasal-type angiocentric NK/T cell lymphoma, aggressive NK cell leukemia/lymphoma and blastic NK cell lymphoma, were described by several authors as a unique group of lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we intend to clarify the clinicopathological features of cutaneous CD4+ and CD56+ lymphoma. METHODS: Four patients with cutaneous CD4+ and CD56+ lymphoma were studied. RESULTS: Age at the first examination ranged from 71 to 89 years (mean = 81.2 years). One patient was female and 3 were males. The organ mainly involved at presentation was the skin. Lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, leukemic spread and central nervous system involvement were observed as the disease progressed. The mean survival time was 12.2 months. Epstein-Barr virus was not detected within the tumor cells. CONCLUSION: This peculiar lymphoma is different from nasal and nasal-type angiocentric NK/T cell lymphoma and aggressive NK cell leukemia/lymphoma. Similar cases have been reported as blastic NK cell lymphoma/leukemia.