Benign and malignant lymphocytic skin infiltrates: immunological patterns recognized by immunohistochemical staining...

Skin biopsies from 150 patients with cutaneous lymphoma, premalignant or "pseudolymphomatous" conditions and benign dermatoses were examined by immunoenzymatic staining of frozen sections with a panel of monoclonal antibodies against lymphocytes, macrophages and accessory cells. Two patterns of infiltration were identified. In one of these T cells associated with Langerhans cells and HLA-DR-positive macrophages of dendritic morphology, were seen. In the other B cell follicles were present in addition to the above type of infiltrate. The latter pattern was restricted to patch tests biopsies, cutaneous lymphocytomas, and malignant lymphomas of B-cell origin. It is concluded that lymphocytic skin infiltrates are divisible into different patterns of immunological reactions similar to those seen in lymphoid organs.