By Disease Name > Lymphomatoid Papulosis

Lymphomatoid Papulosis

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•chronic self-healing and recurrent polymorphous papulonecrotic dermatosis
•usually a "countable" number of lesions
•spontaneous regression with a scar and waxing and waning of lesions
•no LAN, no systemic involvement
•histology (2 types):
•type A – nodular or "Hodgkin’s like"
•type B – band-like or "MF-like"
•both types: CD4+, CD30+
•responds well to methotrexate and photochemotherapy, but the treatment does not seem to change the long term course
•~10 to 20% develop lymphoma  (MF, Hodgkin’s, or CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma)
•malignant evolution cannot be predicted by clinical, histological, nor TCR gene rearrangement

 

Clonality:

•clonal rearrangements found in 40 to 60% of cases (but this finding is not predictive of prognosis)
•studies of patients with LyP and lymphoma, have generally shown the same dominant clone in both the LyP and the lymphoma lesions

 

hmtoggle_plus1Differential Diagnosis:
•CD30+ ALCL – clinically - often a solitary (ulcerating) tumor or several grouped nodules or papules restricted to 1 skin area;  however, there are cases in which differentiation between the two conditions is very difficult because of indistinguishable morphological and immunophenotypical features;  histology – large clusters or sheets of anaplastic CD30+ cells
•because of the similarities between LyP and other types of CTCL (MF or CD30+ ALCL), the presence of a recurrent, self-healing papular or papulonodular eruption is used as a decisive criterion for the diagnosis of LyP
•arthropod bites
•PLEVA:   clinically – lesions are generally smaller and more numerous and run a shorter course;  histology – a lichenoid infiltrate without CD30-positive cells is seen
•pseudolymphoma

 

hmtoggle_plus1Prognosis:
•a sporadic, but significant association with systemic lymphoid malignancies
•in adult-onset LyP, malignant transformation has been described:
•~ 5 to 20% develop lymphoma
•Mycosis Fungoides (40%)
•CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)  (30%)
•Hodgkin’s lymphoma (25%)
•the malignancy can appear before, concurrently or after the onset of LyP (this period ranges from a few weeks to more than 40 years)
•malignant evolution cannot be predicted by clinical, histological, nor TCR gene rearrangement
•the types of lymphomas associated with LyP are generally associated with a favorable prognosis
•this indicates excellent overall survival for LyP patients, despite the increased risk of lymphoid malignancies
•it has been suggested that lymphoma complicating LyP can be recognized by enlarging or persistent skin lesions, peripheral LAN, or circulating atypical lymphocytes
•and that patients be examined for these findings at least once yearly

 

hmtoggle_plus1Treatment:
•therapy not usually necessary except for cosmetic reasons
•there is no evidence that treatment of LyP reduces the risk of subsequent malignancy
•no treatment results in sustained complete remission; produce partial and temporary response
•therefore only treat if symptomatic or if you anticipate scarring will be significant
•super potent topical steroids (generally ineffective)
•PUVA
•methotrexate (doses similar to psoriasis 15mg to 20mg weekly)

 

 

CONCEPT: CD30+ Lymphoproliferative disorders

 

CONCEPT: Ugly histology but benign behavior