Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-cell Lymphoma: A Clinical, Pathological and Immunophenotypic Analysis of 10 Taiwanese Cases

Background Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma of the skin. In practice, it is most likely to present to a dermatologist. However, apart from individual case reports, detailed studies of SPTCL are limited in dermatology literature from Taiwan. Objectives To describe the clinical, pathological and immunophenotypic features of 10 Taiwanese patients with SPTCL. Patients and methods The medical records of all patients diagnosed by skin biopsy as SPTCL at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital during the period 1991-2003 were reviewed. Results Ten cases of SPTCL were seen during the past 13 years. All cases presented with subcutaneous nodules and/or plaques, and 4 had systemic symptoms. All biopsy specimens showed an infiltrate of small, medium to large pleomorphic cells involving the subcutis with characteristic rimming of fat cells. These infiltrates were identified as T cells by immunohistochemical study. The median survival was 31 months. Two patients died of the disease despite of aggressive treatment, while most of the others achieved remission without further recurrence. Conclusion This study supports that SPTCL is a distinct clinicopathologic entity of clonal, cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma. Two subsets of SPTCL could be recognized: one is indolent without systemic symptoms and signs, and the other is rapidly progressive carrying a poor prognosis.(Dermatol Sinica 22 : 281-286, 2004)