Quantitative analysis of lymphoid cells in cutaneous low-grade malignant B-cell lymphomas

Eighteen cases of low grade malignant B-cell lymphomas (confirmed through enzyme cytochemistry and immunocytology) were investigated morphologically using thin and semithin sections. Four types with a characteristic pattern of different lymphoid cells were found: (1) the lymphocytic type, predominantly consisting of small lymphocytes; (2) the lymphocytoid (centrocytic or prolymphocytic) type, in which in addition to small lymphocytes medium-sized lymphocytes (with or without cleaved nuclei) are found; (3) the lymphoplasmacytoid type, where lymphoid cells with different degrees of similarity to plasma cells are seen as well as small and medium-sized lymphocytes; and (4) the centroblastic-centrocytic type, in which centroblasts are present next to small and medium-sized lymphocytes. These findings correlate well with the morphological observations in low-grade malignant B-cell lymphomas of the lymph nodes. Therefore, the application of modern classifications of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, such as the "Kiel Classification", to cutaneous lymphomas appears justified. Thin and semithin sections are particularly useful in suspected cases of cutaneous malignant lymphoma, in which paraffin sections did not allow the diagnosis to be established.