[New aspects in the classification of cutaneous lymphomas]

Authors discuss the classification of primary cutaneous lymphomas created by the Cutaneous Lymphoma Study Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in 1996, which is based on the clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and genetic features of cutaneous lymphomas. Unlike the previous histologic classifications it contains well-defined disease entities characterized by their clinical and histological picture, clinical outcome, behaviour and therapeutic response. This classification does not use the term of low grade or high grade lymphoma, but introduces the indolent, aggressive and provisional subgroups in the T-cell lymphomas, and indolent, intermediate and provisional subgroups in the B-cell group. Authors demonstrate the EORTC classification by their own cases calling the attention to the clinical and therapeutic difference between nodal and extranodal lymphomas, and discuss the up-to-date therapeutic possibilities.