Intralymphatic atypical T-cell proliferation in a cutaneous hemangioma

J Cutan Pathol. 2010 Apr;37(4):497-503. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2009.01327.x. Epub 2009 Jul 10.

Abstract

We report an unusual case of atypical T-cell proliferation involving the lymphatic vessels within a cutaneous hemangioma from an elderly woman. Despite the blastic morphology, the CD4 restricted phenotype and the very high proliferation index, the clinical presentation (single skin lesion in a healthy woman), the benign clinical course and the absence of T-cell receptor (TCR) clonal rearrangement favored a reactive nature of the process. Since the atypical cells showed an effector/memory-like regulatory T-phenotype (CD45RO+, CD25+ and FOXp3+), expressed the migration-associated molecule CCR7 and were exclusively located within podoplanin+ lymphatic vessels, we speculate that the process might reflect an unusual local immune response, with migration of T-cells to draining lymph nodes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Hemangioma / immunology*
  • Hemangioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell