Lymphomatoid papulosis followed by Hodgkin's lymphoma. Differential response to therapy
H. S. Zackheim, P. E. LeBoit, B. I. Gordon and A. B. Glassberg
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco.
BACKGROUND. The association of lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) with Hodgkin's
lymphoma or other lymphomas is well recognized. However, the issue as to
whether this represents an independent association or a transformation of
one proliferative process to the other remains unresolved. OBSERVATION. A
woman with LyP subsequently developed Hodgkin's lymphoma. Combination
chemotherapy resulted in apparent cure of the lymphoma but had only a
transient effect on the LyP. A literature review revealed a similar
difference in response to chemotherapy or radiation therapy in most
patients who had LyP and associated lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS. The differential
response to therapy in patients with LyP and associated lymphoma suggests
that there are biological differences between LyP cells and associated
lymphoma cells even though in some patients the immunophenotype and
genotype were reported to be identical. However, alternative explanations
are possible. In this article we also review studies on other cases of LyP
associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
