BACKGROUND: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a condition affecting immunosuppressed transplant patients and has a variety of clinical presentations. It is rarely found in the skin, and cases of PTLD in the skin are usually linked with lymph node or other organ involvement. METHODS: We report a case of plasmacytoid PTLD that is limited to the skin. A 63-year-old man with a history of cardiac transplant presented with exophytic tumors involving the lower extremity. The diagnosis and classification of the various forms of PTLD are discussed. RESULTS: Histology, immunohistochemical stains, and in situ hybridization revealed an aggressive plasmacytoid tumor that was Epstein-Barr virus positive. The patient's tumors resolved with decreased immunosuppression and localized radiation. CONCLUSION: This case is unusual for several reasons including involvement limited to the skin, presentation 15 years following transplant, and plasmacytoid phenotype of the tumor. This disorder will likely be seen by dermatologists and dermatopathologists with the increasing use of immunosuppressive medications in the dermatologist's patient population.
BACKGROUND: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a condition affecting immunosuppressed transplant patients and has a variety of clinical presentations. It is rarely found in the skin, and cases of PTLD in the skin are usually linked with lymph node or other organ involvement. METHODS: We report a case of plasmacytoid PTLD that is limited to the skin. A 63-year-old man with a history of cardiac transplant presented with exophytic tumors involving the lower extremity. The diagnosis and classification of the various forms of PTLD are discussed. RESULTS: Histology, immunohistochemical stains, and in situ hybridization revealed an aggressive plasmacytoid tumor that was Epstein-Barr virus positive. The patient's tumors resolved with decreased immunosuppression and localized radiation. CONCLUSION: This case is unusual for several reasons including involvement limited to the skin, presentation 15 years following transplant, and plasmacytoid phenotype of the tumor. This disorder will likely be seen by dermatologists and dermatopathologists with the increasing use of immunosuppressive medications in the dermatologist's patient population.