Primary cutaneous eosinophil-rich anaplastic large cell lymphoma: report of an unusual case and literature review

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous, neutrophil-rich anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is an uncommon variant of ALCL that may be confused with inflammatory dermatoses. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We describe an eosinophil-rich variant of ALCL occurring on the left ear without systemic involvement. The lesion had inflammatory characteristics, which led initially to a histological diagnosis of an inflammatory process. Two months later, a second biopsy diagnosed eosinophil-rich variant of ALCL. The patient underwent radiation therapy, but due to the extensive deformation and mutilation of the ear, the patient elected to have the ear amputated. We discuss the clinicopathological findings and the differential diagnosis CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, the occurrence of a cutaneous, eosinophil-rich variant of ALCL has not been previously reported. It is important to alert pathologists to this variant of ALCL so that this possibility may be considered in the early differential diagnosis of inflammatory cutaneous conditions.