Primary cutaneous lymphoma: the witness of multidisciplinarity.

Primary cutaneous lymphoma (CL), the second most frequent type of extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), accounts for approximately one third of all cases of NHL. This is a very simple reason for having an issue of Haematologica specifically focused on this topic. Although most of the literature and clinical experience about CL come from dermatology, the history of the last 20 years clearly shows the critical importance of the close integration among scientists from different disciplines: dermatology, pathology, hematology, oncology, radiotherapy, immunology, and molecular biology. This is increasingly recognized as the only way to progress in an effective and balanced fashion. The continuous efforts of the Cutaneous Lymphoma Task Force of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC-CLTF) bear witness to the crucial importance of multidisciplinary groups. In 1997, this Task Force produced the clinico-pathological classification which is currently the most effective and powerful reference for diagnosis, management, and treatment of CL. Right at the moment dedicated people from the EORTC-CLTF are finalizing the dream of producing a WHO/EORTC consensus classification of CL, with the goal of having CL patients correctly diagnosed, properly managed and effectively treated. The EORTC-CLTF includes clinicians and scientists from various European countries, some of which have well established and active national groups, such as the Dutch group (very strong, and operating for almost 20 years), the French, British, German-Austrian, Spain and the Italian (Gruppo Italiano Linfomi Cutanei, GILC, founded in 1998) groups. One of the goals of the national groups is to develop consensus guidelines for diagnosis, management and treatment of CL, and to spread them to practicing physicians. This respectable goal is also one of the priorities of international organizations such as the International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas (ISCL), in which most of the people of the EORTC-CLTF work in close collaboration with clinicians and scientists from every part of the world in a truly intercontinental effort. I have no hesitation in recounting that being one of the active supporters of both the EORTC-CLTF and ISCL, together with other Italian and non-Italian friends, was — and is — a great privilege for me.