A RARE CASE OF CUTANEOUS SMALL T-CELL LYMPHOMA.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are a group of clinicopathologically definable monoclonal Tcell proliferations with skin involvement. Primary cutaneous CD4+ small T-cell lymphomas (CD4+ SMPTCL) are a rare entity, mostly characterized by the appearance of nodules/plaques/ulcerations in the upper part of the body. We present a rare case of a patient who addressed our surgical clinic for 2 subcutaneous nodules that appeared few months before and grew rapidly. The clinical exam revealed one subcutaneous nodule on the left abdominal upper quadrant and one ulcerated nodule involving the left thigh, as well as bilateral axillary adenopathies. The final diagnosis following the histopathological and immunohistochemical exams is of small T-cell non-Hodgkin malignant peripheral lymphoma, a rare disorder usually involving the upper part of the body. This disease usually has an indolent course, while spontaneous regression was reported in almost 30% of cases. Lesions that do not disappear spontaneously may be treated using different approaches such as intralesional steroids, radiotherapy or, as in the presented case, surgical excision. General prognosis for patients with primary cutaneous CD4+ small T-cell lymphomas is favorable, having an estimated 5-year disease-free survival rate of 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]