A Case of Secondary Cutaneous Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

We report here on a case of secondary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that occurred in a 67-year-old man who had a 2-month history of nodular growing masses on the left cheek, plus palpable lymph nodes on the left cervical area. The histopathological findings showed a diffuse infiltration of large atypical lymphocytes with nuclear atypia throughout the entire dermis. These showed positive CD20, bcl-2 and the post-germinal center marker, MUM-1. According to the WHO (World Health Organization) classification, this lymphoma is considered to be diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the post-germinal center (GC) B-cell type with a secondary cutaneous manifestation. We treated the patient with systemic chemotherapy (CHOP) and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. During the course of treatment, new skin lesions developed on his neck, so we changed the regimen to cytosine-arabinoside and cisplatin. But he died of pneumonia after the third cycle. (Ann Dermatol (Seoul) 18(2) 91~96, 2006)