An Isolated Cutaneous Relapse in a Known Case of Systemic ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: A Rare Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

Among non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a relatively uncommon subtype that accounts for 3% of all adult NHLs. It typically affects young males, with a prevalence of three to one. Most cases present with nodal disease at the time of presentation. An extranodal involvement is seen in 60% of cases and skin involvement is seen in only 8 to 21% of cases. Cutaneous involvement in ALCL can manifest as primary cutaneous ALCL or secondary to systemic ALCL, and while CD30 positivity is common to both, ALK is not expressed by the former. A secondary skin involvement is usually associated with a poorer prognosis.

We report a rare case of an isolated cutaneous relapse of systemic ALK-positive ALCL in a 62-year-old woman following the second cycle of chemotherapy. The acute febrile, widespread papulonodular eruption clinically resembled mycosis fungoides and lymphomatoid papulosis. With the introduction of oral crizotinib, a drastic improvement in the skin lesions and an exceptional response on positron emission tomography-computed tomography were noted.

Keywords

ALCL - ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma - ALK-positive ALCL - cutaneous metastasis - crizotinib

Declaration of the Patient Consent form

Written informed consent was obtained from all the patients and/or guardians.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
26. November 2024

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