Cutaneous lymphomas in Taiwan: A review of 118 cases from a medical center in southern Taiwan

Background: Cutaneous lymphomas (CLs) have not been well characterized in Taiwan. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathologic findings of cases of CLs of our department diagnosed from January 2001 to December 2010. The final diagnosis was made according to the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification and its 2016 update. Results: Our series consisted of 91 primary CLs, 27 secondary CLs. The primary CLs consisted of 84 cases of mature T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) and 7 cases of B-cell lymphomas, including mycosis fungoides (MF) (57.1%), lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) (14.3%), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (7.7%), extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, nasal type (4.4%), extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (3.3%), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (4.4%). Most MF (82.6%) cases were early MF (stage I–IIA) and were treated successfully, mainly with ultraviolet B (UVB) 311. The overall 5-year survival rate was 90.7% for early stage MF, 37.5% for stage late MF and 74.9% for all MF cases. Conclusion: Compared to other larger Western and Asian series of primary CLs, our series showed higher proportions of CTCLs and MF. Over 80% of MF was early MF, a finding consistent with the trend in early diagnosis of MF in recent decades. A nation-wide study is warranted to further characterize CLs in Taiwan.