Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: A case report

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), formerly known as agranular cluster of differentiation (CD)4⁺/CD56⁺ hematodermic neoplasm, is a rare and aggressive type of lymphoma, with only ~100 cases reported worldwide. BPDCN is a hematological malignancy derived from precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and is clinically characterized by cutaneous manifestations involving the lymph nodes and peripheral blood, a leukemia-like dissemination and a poor prognosis. The present study reports the case of a 54-year-old male who presented with symptoms characteristic of BPDCN. Pathological and immunohistochemical analysis of abdominal skin lesion biopsies were used to determine a diagnosis of stage IIIE BPDCN. Although cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone chemotherapy was administered, the patient succumbed to BPDCN nine days after the discontinuation of chemotherapy. Thus, the period from BPDCN presentation to mortality was ≤3 months. The case reported in the present study was characterized by rapid development and poor prognosis, and displayed additional features of BPDCN, including systemic dissemination and a short survival period.