[Ulcerated cutaneous lymphoma. 10 years of experience]

Patients with lymphomas and cutaneous ulcers have a poor prognosis. Commonly the ulcers occur later in the course of lymphomas and may be the source of sepsis. From 59 patients with lymphoma and skin involvement, 12 patients who presented with ulcers were retrospectively analyzed between January 1990 to December 1999. More frequently ulcers were multiple, necrotic, infected and placed on tumors. Sepsis was the main cause of mortality in 10 patients and most cases were secondary to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Factors associated with poor prognosis were febrile neutropenia after chemotherapy and generalized involvement by the lymphoma. Mean survival of deceased patients after onset of ulcers was 6.27 months. We emphasize the importance of an appropriate microbiological study and a prompt therapy.