Cutaneous lymphadenoma: a case report and review of the literature

We report a case of cutaneous lymphadenoma, a tumour first described by Santa Cruz and Barr under the name of 'lymphoepithelial tumour'. Twenty-three cases have been reported to date. The commonest site is the head and neck, and it is most commonly diagnosed in the fourth and fifth decades. The usual clinical diagnosis is basal cell carcinoma. To date, no recurrences have been observed after local excision. The tumour is composed of dermal lobules with a biphasic pattern of epithelial and lymphoid cells. It has been suggested that it arises as a result of faulty interaction between lymphocytes and epithelial cells.