Dermatologic Manifestations of the Lymphoblastoma-Leukemia Group

The dermatologic manifestations of the diseases of the lymphoblastoma-leukemia group are often typical, despite the fact that it may be impossible to establish the diagnoses by other clinical and hematologic investigations. For this reason the cutaneous lesions occurring in these diseases are worthy of serious and extensive investigation. Involvement of the epidermis, corium or subcutaneous tissue may be the initial manifestation noted by the patient. Although in numerous excellent articles this subject has already been discussed, most dermatologists have devoted the major portion of their studies to a consideration of the histopathology, etiology and interrelationships of these diseases. The clinical picture of most of these diseases has been carefully described, but there is a scarcity of reports of large series of cases investigated from the standpoint of the cutaneous manifestations. Most authors have tended to group mycosis fungoides, lymphosarcoma, lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease) and lymphatic leukemia under the generic term lymphoblastoma.