Composite cutaneous lymphoma in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate

Am J Dermatopathol. 2010 Feb;32(1):65-70. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0b013e3181af7dee.

Abstract

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whether treated or not with immunosuppressive agents including methotrexate, have an increased risk of lymphoproliferative disorders. Termed "iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders" in the 2008 World Health Organization classification of lymphoid neoplasms, they include Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Composite lymphomas are rare, particularly in skin, with none reported in immunodeficiency states. We report the case of a 67 year-old woman with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis, on methotrexate treatment, who developed multiple skin lesions exhibiting a malignant infiltrate displaying both B- and T-cell phenotypes and dual clonal gene rearrangement by polymerase chain reaction, consistent with a cutaneous composite lymphoma. The patient received chemotherapy including rituximab with partial response, but the T-cell component recurred. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a cutaneous composite lymphoma in a patient with an iatrogenic immunodeficiency representing a dual challenge, diagnostic for the pathologist and therapeutic for the hematologist.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • Female
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / chemically induced
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / chemically induced
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / genetics
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / pathology*
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects*
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Methotrexate