Analysis of cutaneous lymphomas in a medical center in Bahia, Brazil

To evaluate the frequency of the different types of cutaneous lymphoma (CL) in 1 university hospital in Brazil and compare this frequency with those observed in other countries.

After review, 72 (84.7%) cases of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and 13 (15.3%) cases of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) were included.

Of the CTCLs, 40.3% were mycosis fungoides (MF); 26.4% were adult T-cell leukemias/lymphomas (ATLs); 23.6% were peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unspecified; and 8.3% were anaplastic large cell lymphomas. Of the MF cases, 17.2% progressed to transformed MF. Five-year survival for primary human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1-negative CTCL, ATL, and CBCL was 64.0%, 42.1%, and 62.5%, respectively. MF and ATL were the most frequent primary CTCLs.

The frequencies observed here are close to those observed in Peru but different from those of European countries. Unfortunately, the World Health Organization/European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer classification does not include primary cutaneous ATL.