Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis

Background/Aims: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an uncommon, aggressive malignancy that rarely presents in the skin and is generally not considered as part of the differential diagnosis by dermatologists and dermatopathologists. We describe an unusual case of T-ALL presenting with fo...

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Main Authors: Joshua J. Clark, Jason E. Hawkes, Scott R. Florell, Rodney R. Miles, David A. Wada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-09-01
Series:Dermatopathology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/501581
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author Joshua J. Clark
Jason E. Hawkes
Scott R. Florell
Rodney R. Miles
David A. Wada
author_facet Joshua J. Clark
Jason E. Hawkes
Scott R. Florell
Rodney R. Miles
David A. Wada
author_sort Joshua J. Clark
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aims: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an uncommon, aggressive malignancy that rarely presents in the skin and is generally not considered as part of the differential diagnosis by dermatologists and dermatopathologists. We describe an unusual case of T-ALL presenting with folliculocentric, erythematous papules on the face, histologically resembling mycosis fungoides (MF). Immunostaining for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) was positive in tumor cells, supporting the diagnosis of cutaneous involvement by T-ALL. TdT is a nuclear enzyme expressed by immature lymphoid malignancies, but the expression pattern of this marker is not well characterized in the skin. We aimed to assess TdT staining in skin biopsies with similar-appearing lymphocytic infiltrates. Methods: We evaluated the immunostaining profile of TdT in a cohort of 23 patients, including 13 cases of MF and 10 cases of spongiotic dermatitis. Results: The lymphocytes in the MF and spongiotic dermatitis cases lacked nuclear staining for TdT. Nonspecific, granular, cytoplasmic staining was observed in a small number of background cells. Conclusions: TdT may assist dermatopathologists in discriminating malignant infiltrates of T-ALL from other conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-d0ddb68374754a5e804671b3e6cb645e2022-12-21T22:33:27ZengMDPI AGDermatopathology2296-35292019-09-016318218810.1159/000501581501581Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic DermatitisJoshua J. ClarkJason E. HawkesScott R. FlorellRodney R. MilesDavid A. WadaBackground/Aims: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an uncommon, aggressive malignancy that rarely presents in the skin and is generally not considered as part of the differential diagnosis by dermatologists and dermatopathologists. We describe an unusual case of T-ALL presenting with folliculocentric, erythematous papules on the face, histologically resembling mycosis fungoides (MF). Immunostaining for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) was positive in tumor cells, supporting the diagnosis of cutaneous involvement by T-ALL. TdT is a nuclear enzyme expressed by immature lymphoid malignancies, but the expression pattern of this marker is not well characterized in the skin. We aimed to assess TdT staining in skin biopsies with similar-appearing lymphocytic infiltrates. Methods: We evaluated the immunostaining profile of TdT in a cohort of 23 patients, including 13 cases of MF and 10 cases of spongiotic dermatitis. Results: The lymphocytes in the MF and spongiotic dermatitis cases lacked nuclear staining for TdT. Nonspecific, granular, cytoplasmic staining was observed in a small number of background cells. Conclusions: TdT may assist dermatopathologists in discriminating malignant infiltrates of T-ALL from other conditions.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/501581Leukemia cutisT-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemiaTerminal deoxynucleotidyl transferaseImmunohistochemistry
spellingShingle Joshua J. Clark
Jason E. Hawkes
Scott R. Florell
Rodney R. Miles
David A. Wada
Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis
Dermatopathology
Leukemia cutis
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase
Immunohistochemistry
title Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis
title_full Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis
title_fullStr Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis
title_full_unstemmed Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis
title_short Cutaneous T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Expression Pattern of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Immunostaining in Mycosis Fungoides and Spongiotic Dermatitis
title_sort cutaneous t cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the expression pattern of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase immunostaining in mycosis fungoides and spongiotic dermatitis
topic Leukemia cutis
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase
Immunohistochemistry
url https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/501581
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