Lymphomatoid papulosis: A rare case report and review of literature

Abstract

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a rare cutaneous condition characterized by chronic, recurrent, and self-regressing papulonodular skin eruptions. It belongs to the spectrum of primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders, along with primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (primary C-ALCL) with which it shares overlapping clinical and histopathologic features. The occurrence of LyP is extremely rare, with an estimated overall prevalence rate of 1.2 to 1.9 cases per 1 million population. Patients with LyP are at an increased risk of developing cutaneous or nodal lymphoid malignancies such as classic mycosis fungoides, ALCL, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Treatment includes use of topical steroids with or followed by phototherapy (psoralen-UVA light therapy [PUVA]) or oral low-dose methotrexate (MTX). Complications due to long-term treatment may also include a higher incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (due to PUVA) or hepatic fibrosis (due to MTX). Here, we report a case of 48-year-old female, admitted with the complaints of multiple erythematous painless nonpruritic plaques and subcutaneous nodules over the right shoulder, both upper limbs, lower limbs, back and the abdomen for 4 months and a large ulcerated tumor over the medial aspect of left leg for 3 months. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of LyP to be published from Bangladesh.