Premalignant lymphoid hyperplasia preceding and coexisting with malignant lymphoma in the skin

A primary malignant lymphoma of the skin had concurrent and antecedent lesions showing histologic changes of completely benign lymphoid hyperplasia. The malignant lymphoma itself evolved during a few years, although specimens from repeated biopsies had previously exhibited benign lymphoid hyperplasia. We urge that persistent benign lymphoid hyperplasia in its many clinical forms in the skin be recognized as a long-term premalignant lesion. Awareness of such a continuum of benign to malignant change aids in the interpretation of the histologic findings in these growths and alerts the clinician to the need for years of careful surveillance. Histologic assessment should indicate whether the specimen shows benign, indeterminate, or malignant change.