2018 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 13-16
A 55-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a right axillary subcutaneous mass, which gradually increased in size and had appeared approximately 6 months prior to initial examination. Histopathological examination revealed a solid tumor comprised of CD30-positive large heteromorphic cells, which was first presumed to be primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL). However, since the patient revealed anti-human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1 antibodies, an alternative diagnosis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma was considered. As only a single tumor was observed, we performed total excision of the tumor. The diagnosis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma was established following confirmation of clonal uptake of HTLV-1 proviral DNA by the tumor tissue. As the prognoses of PCALCL and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma are different, it is important to differentiate between these diseases.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2018 ; 33 : 13-16]
