• Vol. 33 No. 1, 110–112
  • 15 January 2004

Lymphomatoid Papulosis Associated with Recurrent Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Lymphomatoid papulosis is a chronic benign disease which may be associated with malignant lymphomas. This case illustrates the relapsing and remitting nature of both lymphomatoid papulosis and its potential of developing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy as a new modality of treatment of early-stage mycosis fungoides in these patients.

Clinical Picture: A 44-year-old woman has had recurrent crops of papules and nodules of lymphomatoid papulosis on the limbs for 15 years. Histological features are consistent with the type B lesions of lymphomatoid papulosis. Eight years after the initial onset of these lesions she developed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides). Since then, she has had recurrence of mycosis fungoides following the cessation of phototherapy, but had no evidence of systemic involvement.

Treatment: The lesions of lymphomatoid papulosis responded to intermittent courses of oral methotrexate. Mycosis fungoides was treated with oral psoralen and ultraviolet A phototherapy with good response. Unfortunately, the lesions relapsed whenever phototherapy was discontinued. The most recent recurrence of mycosis fungoides was treated with NB-UVB therapy.

Outcome: The papules of lymphomatoid papulosis continue to appear but she remains free of lesions of mycosis fungoides, 10 months after cessation of NB-UVB therapy.

Conclusion: Long-term surveillance is essential in all cases of lymphomatoid papulosis as accurate predictors for the development of malignant lymphoma in these individuals are still lacking.


Lymphomatoid papulosis is a self-healing recurrent popular eruption often exhibiting a chronic course. It is associated with malignant lymphomas in 10% to 20% of cases.

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