Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T-Cell Lymphoma: A Study of 12 Cases

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare and distinct type of T-cell lymphoma. The objective of this study was to explore the clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of patients with SPTCL.

Twelve cases of SCPTCL, treated in our hospital between June 2005 and June 2010, were included in this study. Their clinicopathological data were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.

The median age at diagnosis was 41 years (range 25–69 years) and 7 (58%) were women. 9 cases had a CD3+, CD4-, CD8- phenotype; 2 cases, a CD3+, CD4-, CD8+ phenotype; and 1 case, a CD3+, CD4+, CD8- T-cell phenotype. In all cases, strong expression of cytotoxic proteins (granzyme B, TIA-1, perforin) was observed. CD56 was expressed in 8 of 12 cases.

4 patients had presented with solitary or localized skin lesions. Ulceration was observed in 3 patients. B symptoms, such as fever, chills, night sweats, and weight loss, had been recorded in 7 of 12 patients. Laboratory abnormalities, mainly anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia or combined cytopenias, and elevated liver function tests and lactate dehydrogenase, were reported in 4 patients. Bone marrow examination showed histiocytic hyperplasia, hemophagocytosis, or decreased cellularity in 3 cases, but no evidence of lymphoma. A HPS was diagnosed in 4 of 12 patients (33%), and was fatal in 2 of them.

Four patients presenting with solitary or localized skin lesions had been treated with radiotherapy (2 cases) or surgery (2 cases). All 4 patients reached complete remission and only 1 of them showed a skin relapse, which was treated successfully with radiotherapy again. Eight patients with diffused lesions were treated with chemotherapy (CHOP or CHOP-like courses). After initial treatment 5 (63%) of 8 patients had developed new skin lesions, and 2 of them had developed extracutaneous localizations. Then the 3 of the relapsed patients were treated with autologous stem cell transplantation, all of whom obtained complete remission. At the time of last follow-up (median follow-up: 34 months; range: 10–60 months), 5 patients are in complete remission, 4 patients have ongoing skin disease, while 3 patients have died, 2 of the complications of HPS or therapy-related side effects and 1 of unrelated disease. The 3-year OS and DSS of the patients were 75% and 42%, respectively. Patients without HPS had a significantly better 3-year OS (88%) than patients with HPS (50%; P <.001).

SPTCL seems to be a kind of heterogeneity disease. The factors associated with an unfavorable disease course were: diffuse lesions, a low white blood cell count, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and combine with HPS. Autologous stem cell transplantation may improve the overall survival of high risk patients.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.