Characterization of skin infiltrating cells in adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL): clinical, histological and immunohistochemical studies on eight cases.

Eight cases of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) with cutaneous involvement were studied. The clinical and histological features of these cases were recorded and immunohistochemistry carried out using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to T-cell differentiation antigens. Patients with ATLL showed distinct differences from patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). Patients tended to have papulonodular and purpuric skin eruptions with pleomorphic lymphoid infiltrates, and often a degree of vasculitis. There was a high level of expression of activated T-cell antigens, CD25, CD30, CD38, T9 and Leu 8.