Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: a case report of primary cutaneous tumoral type.

BACKGROUND: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a distinctive peripheral T- lymphocytic malignancy associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). It may closely resemble other skin lymphomas, particularly mycosis fungoides (MF). CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old woman presented some ellipsoid scaling patches lasting 18 months and developed a large tumoral lesion in the abdomen, which were previously diagnosed as MF. Although histopathologic and immunohistochemistry findings were in consonance with this diagnosis, the fast progression of the disease raised the suspicion that it could represent another type of T-cell lymphoma. The work-up revealed a positive anti-HTLV-1 serology and molecular studies confirmed the monoclonal integration of HTLV-1 provirus into neoplastic cells of the skin, but not into circulating lymphocytes. Extensive investigations were unable to demonstrate any systemic involvement. The final diagnosis was of primary cutaneous type of ATLL. The patient was submitted to a chemotherapy regimen with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone, later to conjugated dexamethasone and surgical cytoreduction and then to a second line treatment with gemcitabine, resulting in partial response. A bone marrow heterologous transplantation was performed, but failed to achieve a sustained remission. DISCUSSION: ATLL is a rare lymphoid malignancy in non-endemic HTLV-1 areas, the diagnosis of which could be missed if not highly suspected. In addition to the four subtypes of Shimoyama classification (acute, lymphomatous, chronic and smoldering), a fifth one denominated primary cutaneous and characterized by presence of lesions only in the skin had been proposed and is herein exemplified.

Glomeruloid hemangioma in POEMS syndrome: a report on two cases and a review of the literature.

Glomeruloid hemangioma is characterized by coiled capillary vessels contained within enlarged vascular spaces displaying an architecture that resembles renal glomeruli. The condition is strongly associated with POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy and Skin changes). The present paper reports on two cases of glomeruloid hemangiomas associated with POEMS syndrome, and includes a review of the literature. Case one refers to a 63-year old female patient admitted to hospital with ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, walking difficulties and cutaneous hemangiomas. Histopathology revealed a diagnosis of glomeruloid hemangioma and served to guide the clinical work-up, which revealed sensorimotor polyneuropathy, a plasmacytoma in the L4 vertebra with tumor cells positive for kappa chain, and diabetes mellitus. These findings permitted a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome to be reached. The second case consisted of a 39-year old woman admitted to hospital with edema, ascites, pleural effusion, glomeruloid hemangiomas and lymphadenopathy (Castleman's disease). Additional findings included monoclonal IgG-lambda paraproteinemia, blastic lesions in the right iliac bone and L4 vertebra, and demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy affecting all four limbs. The final diagnosis in this case was POEMS syndrome associated with Castleman's disease.

Hemangioma glomeruloide e a síndrome POEMS: relato de dois casos e revisão da literatura / Glomeruloid hemangioma in POEMS syndrome: a report on two cases and a review of the literature

O hemangioma glomeruloide caracteriza-se por enovelados capilares contidos em espaços vasculares dilatados reminiscentes de glomérulos renais, sendo fortemente associado à síndrome POEMS (polineuropatia, organomegalia, endocrinopatia, gamopatia monoclonal e alterações cutâneas). Relatamse dois casos da síndrome associados a hemangiomas glomeruloides e faz-se uma revisão da literatura. O primeiro é uma paciente feminina, 63 anos, internada para investigação de ascite, hepatoesplenomegalia, dificuldade de deambulação e hemangiomas cutâneos. A histopatologia de uma dessas lesões estabeleceu o diagnóstico de hemangioma glomeruloide e direcionou a investigação, que revelou polineuropatia sensitivo-motora, plasmocitoma kappa-positivo em L4 e Diabetes mellitus, permitindo o diagnóstico da síndrome. O segundo caso é de uma paciente feminina, 39 anos, com edema, ascite, derrame pleural, hemangiomas glomeruloides e linfonodomegalias (doença de Castleman). Havia um componente monoclonal de IgG-lambda e lesões blásticas no ilíaco direito e em L4, assim como lesão desmielinizante sensitivo-motora nos quatro membros, compondo o diagnóstico de síndrome POEMS.

Glomeruloid hemangioma is characterized by coiled capillary vessels contained within enlarged vascular spaces displaying an architecture that resembles renal glomeruli. The condition is strongly associated with POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy and Skin changes). The present paper reports on two cases of glomeruloid hemangiomas associated with POEMS syndrome, and includes a review of the literature. Case one refers to a 63-year old female patient admitted to hospital with ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, walking difficulties and cutaneous hemangiomas. Histopathology revealed a diagnosis of glomeruloid hemangioma and served to guide the clinical work-up, which revealed sensorimotor polyneuropathy, a plasmacytoma in the L4 vertebra with tumor cells positive for kappa chain, and diabetes mellitus. These findings permitted a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome to be reached. The second case consisted of a 39-year old woman admitted to hospital with edema, ascites, pleural effusion, glomeruloid hemangiomas and lymphadenopathy (Castleman's disease). Additional findings included monoclonal IgG-lambda paraproteinemia, blastic lesions in the right iliac bone and L4 vertebra, and demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy affecting all four limbs. The final diagnosis in this case was POEMS syndrome associated with Castleman's disease.