Acta Dermato-Venereologica Issue No. 97-5 97-5CompleteContent | Page 25
SHORT COMMUNICATION
651
Telangiectatic Mycosis Fungoides: A New Clinicopathological Presentation Mimicking Acquired
Naevoid Telangiectasia
Lidia GARCÍA-COLMENERO, Laia CURTO-BARREDO, Ignacio GÓMEZ-MARTIN, Fernando GALLARDO and Ramon M. PUJOL
Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar. Parc de Salut Mar, Passeig Marítim 25–29, ES-08003 Barcelona, Spain. E-mail: lidia.garcia.
[email protected]
Accepted Jan 12, 2017; Epub ahead of print Jan 17, 2017
Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common subtype
of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The classical clinical
picture usually evolves through 3 stages: patch, plaque
and tumour stage. However, multiple clinicopathological
variants of MF have been reported and a considerable
number of reports have documented MF lesions mi-
micking different inflammatory and non-inflammatory
cutaneous disorders. In these situations the diagnosis can
be challenging and additional studies (histopathological,
immunohistochemical and molecular analysis) may be
necessary in order to establish a definite diagnosis.
We report here an uncommon clinical presentation of
MF manifested by multiple isolated non-atrophic patches
with prominent telangiectasias and, histopathologically,
by an epidermotropic lymphocytic infiltrate accompanied
by dilated capillaries in the reticular dermis. This “te-
langiectatic” variant of patch-stage MF seems to expand
the clinicopathological spectrum of early MF lesions.
CASE REPORT
A 52-year-old man with personal history of arterial hyperten-
sion treated with perindopril was referred to our department for
evaluation of a 6-month history of asymptomatic erythematous
patches on the face, trunk and upper extremities. Physical exami-
nation revealed an apparently healthy man with several round-to-
oval-shaped patches ranging from 2 to 15 cm in diameter on the
abdomen (Fig. 1a), left arm (Fig. 1b) and left temple. The lesions
were discrete erythematous patches with multiple, blanching,
scattered, 1–3 mm telangiectasias diffusely distributed over the
surface. Neither skin atrophy, nor hypo- or hyper-pigmented
areas were present. The rest of the physical examination was
unremarkable. The patient denied any alcohol consumption or
previous treatments with oral calcium blockers or topical corti-
costeroids. Dermoscopy revealed abundant telangiectasias and
tortuous vessels associated with red-brownish patchy areas on
the entire lesion (Fig. 1c).
Skin biopsies from 2 different patches were performed, which
revealed an atypical band-like epidermotropic lymphocytic infiltra-
tion along the basal layer and upper dermi s, surrounding prominent
dilated vessels (Fig. 2a). Scattered intraepidermal atypical lym
phocytes were observed without clear-cut Pautrier’s microabscess
formation (Fig. 2b). No epidermal atrophy was present. Immu-
nohistochemically, atypical lymphocytes were positive for CD3
and CD4 (Fig. 2c) and a decreased expression of CD7 antigen was
noted. B-cell markers were all negative (CD20, CD10, CXCL13),
as well as CD30 and c-kit (CD117). Ki67 labelling index was ap-
proximately 10%. A monoclonal lymphoid T-cell population was
detected by PCR for both T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma and beta
chains. Results of blood examination including blood cell count,
liver function tests, lactate dehydrogenase and B2-microglobulin
blood levels, as well as results of chest radiography and abdominal
ultrasonography were unremarkable.
Treatment with potent topical corticosteroids was prescribed and
a clinical improvement in the lesions was observed. During the
following months 2 new telangiectatic patches developed on the
abdomen and right armpit, of smaller size than the previous ones.
DISCUSSION
MF has a wide range of clinicopathological manifesta-
tions, some of which differ substantially from the clas-
sical presentation. Many different clinical variants of MF
have been described including poikilodermic, follicular,
bullous, granulomatous, hypopigmented, hyperpigmen-
ted, hyperkeratotic, pustular, ichthyosiform or erythro-
dermic forms (1–4). In addition, MF and, specifically, in
early stages may adopt atypical clinical presentations and
mimic a wide range of cutaneous disorders (5).
Our patient presented several non-atrophic patches
with prominent linearly distributed telangiectasias
Fig. 1. Clinical presentation
and dermoscopic features:
erythematous asymptomatic
patches with prominent
telangiectatic vessels on (a) the
abdomen and (b) the left arm.
(c) Abundant telangiectasia
and smaller tortuous vessels
associated with red-brownish
patchy areas at dermoscopy.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. www.medicaljournals.se/acta
Journal Compilation © 2017 Acta Dermato-Venereologica.
doi: 10.2340/00015555-2613
Acta Derm Venereol 2017; 97: 651–652