A method of liberating living cells from the dermal infiltrate.

A new technique is described whereby viable infiltrating cells can be freed from skin biopsy specimens. The specimens are incubated with collagenase and then mechanically disaggregated. The liberated cells are still suitable for immunological and morphological study. Using this method, the nature of the dermal infiltrate in patients with skin reticuloses was compared with that in lichen planus. A predominance of T cells was found in mycosis fungoides, the Sezary syndrome, and lichen planus, and of B cells in non-Hodgkin lymphomas.