Primary cutaneous CD4+/CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm (blastic NK-cell lymphoma): a report of five cases

Abstract

CD4+/CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm (WHO-EORTC) or blastic NK-cell lymphoma (WHO) is a rare aggressive (CD4+)(CD56+)lin- skin-tropic lymphoma of putative early-plasmacytoid dendritic cell origin. We present five cases to highlight the need for greater awareness of this entity amongst pathologists such that aggressive treatment be considered given the generally poor prognosis.