PAPULOERYTHRODERMA AND CUTANEOUS T-CELL LYMPHOMA

An 83-year-old man had the typical cutaneous features of papuloerythroderma of Ofuji. There were reduced numbers of lymphocytes and platelets in his peripheral blood but the eosinophil count was normal. Skin biopsy showed a nondiagnostic infiltrate of T lymphocytes in the dermis. Treatment with topical steroids and UVB phototherapy was ineffective. Twelve months after presentation, a further skin biopsy revealed atypical lymphoid cells invading the epidermis and the skin adnexae. A diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was made; no evidence of extracutaneous spread was found. Photochemotherapy produced rapid resolution of the skin eruption and clearance of the cutaneous infiltrate. Papuloerythroderma may be a manifestation of a cutaneous lymphoma.