Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Dermatosis Associated to Myeloproliferative/Myelodysplastic Neoplasms

Am J Surg Pathol. 2022 Dec 1;46(12):1623-1632. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001960. Epub 2022 Aug 25.

Abstract

Cutaneous lesions in the setting of myeloproliferative neoplasms and myelodysplastic syndromes are poorly understood. We report 6 patients with pruritic papular eruptions composed of mature T-lymphocytes with large clusters of CD123-positive cells. Double immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a lack of myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen in the CD123-positive cells, which expressed SPIB, confirming that they were mature plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Four patients were diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and 2 with myelodysplastic syndromes (AREB-I and myelodysplastic syndromes with 5q deletion, respectively). All patients had a long history of hematological alterations, mainly thrombocytopenia, preceding the cutaneous disorder. Nevertheless, the skin lesions developed in all cases coincidentally with either progression or full-establishment of their hematological disease. Most cutaneous lesions disappeared spontaneously or after corticosteroid treatment. Molecular studies performed in both bone marrow and cutaneous lesions in 2 patients demonstrated the same mutational profile, confirming the specific, neoplastic nature of these mature plasmacytoid dendritic cells-composed cutaneous lesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic* / pathology
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes* / complications
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes* / pathology
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders* / complications
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders* / genetics
  • Skin Diseases* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit