Cutaneous Hodgkin's disease

Involvement of the skin in advanced Hodgkin's disease is well known. However, Hodgkin's disease initially seen in the skin is extremely rare. A patient had Hodgkin's disease that was initially seen as a cutaneous lesion on the buttock. Lymphadenopathy developed two months after completion of local radiotherapy to the cutaneous lesion and seven months after initial diagnosis. The histologic changes in both instances were those of Hodgkin's disease. We discuss problems in the diagnosis and treatment of skin involvement with Hodgkin's disease.