A combination of mycosis fungoides and chronic myeloid leukemia. Apropos of a case
Sigal Nahum, M.; Rostoker, G.; Gaulier, A.; Urbajtel, M.; Raphael, M.; Bouzamondo, A.; Sigal, S.
Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie 115(2): 159-166
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0151-9638 PMID: 3260764 Document Number: 324925
The coexistence of a T-cell lymphoma with a myelodysplatic syndrome seems to be exceptional. In the case reported here the diagnostic problems raised by the appearance of cutaneous nodules in a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) were solved by histo-immunological examinations. A 70-year old male patient had been presenting since 1976 with a psoriasis-like skin disease. He was first seen at the Argenteuil hospital in 1984. Physical examination showed psoriasiform finger-like erythemato-squamous lesions, infiltrated plaques and an ulcerated tumoral swelling of the right elbow. A diagnosis of mycosis fungoides was made on histological and immunological examination results. At histology, this epidermotropic lymphoma was peculiar in that the atypical infiltrate was clearly centred on vessels. Electron microscopy confirmed that the vascular walls were invaded by the mycosis cells. Additional examinations showed hyperleucocytosis and myelaemia which were rapidly attributed to a chronic myelocytic leukaemia since the Philadelphia chromosome was present and the leucocytes had a low alkaline phosphatase score. Bone marrow biopsy disclosed a myeloproliferative syndrome of the CML type. Biopsy of a right axillary lymph node showed myelocytic infiltration associated with dermopathic lymphadenitis. There were no circulating Sezary cells, and a search for extension proved negative. From May, 1984 to June, 1985 the patient's CML was treated with busulfan which produced blood and bone marrow remission. The skin lesions were treated first with mechlorethamine, then with topical corticosteroids. Superficial electron therapy was applied to the tumoral lesions.