Malignant lymphoma of skin associated with postmastectomy lymphedema

Malignant lymphoma developed in the dorsum of the hand in a patient with a long-standing postmastectomy lymphedema. The tumor subsequently spread to involve skin of the forearm and arm. Growth and spread of malignant cells within the stagnant dilated lymphatics are the likely cause of the characteristic nodular dissemination of the tumor in a lymphedematous extremity, regardless of the type of neoplasm.