Myxoid variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma involving the skin: a case report

J Cutan Pathol. 2012 Aug;39(8):787-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2012.01911.x. Epub 2012 May 22.

Abstract

We report the case of a 62-year-old white male who presented with a 2.6-cm ulcerating mass on the skin of the left buttock and ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Microscopic sections of the skin lesion showed a nodular and plaque-like growth pattern of a mixed cellular infiltrate throughout the dermis and subcutaneous tissue with prominent myxoid change. There was a dominant population of medium-sized mitotically active atypical cells that expressed CD30, CD4 and EMA. These atypical cells were mixed with eosinophils, neutrophils, mature lymphocytes and histiocytes. Tissue from the inguinal lymphadenopathy showed similar pathologic features, although no residual lymph node tissue was present. A diagnosis of secondary anaplastic large cell lymphoma, myxoid variant, with skin and lymph node/perinodal soft tissue involvement was rendered at the time of complete excision of the buttock mass. The patient received five cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy with complete resolution of lymphadenopathy and no residual cutaneous disease. He was disease-free by PET/CT scan and physical examination at 16 months after chemotherapy. We present this case to highlight the histopathologic and immunophenotypic features of this entity with a discussion of the differential diagnosis and a review of the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Ki-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lymphatic Diseases / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / metabolism
  • Myxoma / metabolism
  • Myxoma / pathology*
  • Myxoma / surgery
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary*
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / therapy
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • Ki-1 Antigen
  • Mucin-1
  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • CHOP protocol