Analysis of cutaneous lymphomas in a medical center in Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of the different types of cutaneous lymphoma (CL) in 1 university hospital in Brazil and compare this frequency with those observed in other countries. Methods: After review, 72 (84.7%) cases of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and 13 (15.3%) cases of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) were included. Results: Of the CTCLs, 40.3% were mycosis fungoides (MF); 26.4% were adult T-cell leukemias/lymphomas (ATLs); 23.6% were peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unspecified; and 8.3% were anaplastic large cell lymphomas. Of the MF cases, 17.2% progressed to transformed MF. Five-year survival for primary human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1-negative CTCL, ATL, and CBCL was 64.0%, 42.1%, and 62.5%, respectively. MF and ATL were the most frequent primary CTCLs. Conclusions: The frequencies observed here are close to those observed in Peru but different from those of European countries. Unfortunately, the World Health Organization/ European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer classification does not include primary cutaneous ATL. © American Society for Clinical Pathology.