Heavy multinodular cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates: clinicopathologic features and B-cell clonality

Criteria for distinguishing between cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH) and low-grade B-cell lymphoma are not well defined. We examined the hypothesis that the presence of a clonal B-cell population in heavy multinodular lymphoid infiltrates correlates with clinical presentation and outcome.

We identified 29 patients with skin lesions characterized histologically by a heavy dermal lymphocytic infiltrate with a multinodular architecture and extension into deep dermis and subcutaneous fat. Clonality was assessed immunophenotypically by light-chain restriction and also by analysis for IgH-gene rearrangement using PCR on DNA extracted from paraffin blocks.

Follow-up (mean 80 months; median 45 months) was obtained in all patients. Twenty-four patients (83%) presented with a solitary lesion: only four had solitary recurrences, and none developed multiple synchronous lesions or systemic B-cell lymphoma. However, 9/24 of these solitary lesions (38%) were clonal by light-chain restriction or IgH PCR; 5/29 patients (17%) presented with multiple recurrent lesions and continued to develop lesions during the period of follow-up; 3/5 patients (60%) with multiple lesions demonstrated a B-cell clone. No patient developed systemic B-cell lymphoma.

Heavy, multinodular cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates have an excellent prognosis. Multiple lesions at presentation are the best predictor of recurrent multiple lesions confined to the skin. The presence of a clonal B-cell population does not correlate with clinical presentation or histology, nor does it predict development of further lesions or systemic lymphoma.