Cutaneous B‐cell lymphoproliferative diseases: A centenary celebration classification

and 1994 represent centenary celebration years in commemoration of Moritz Kaposi's' and Eduard Spiegler's2 publications on cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders of probable B-cell type.Their descriptions were those of either single or multiple sarcomatous-like skin lesions (sarcoids).Some cases regressed and were associated with a good prognosis, whereas others spread and caused death.Credit for these observations was accorded by Da~-ier,~ who included these diseases in his discourse on sarcoids.For uncertain reasons, however, Darier highlighted the later work of Fendt,4 by designating the group Spiegler-Fendt rather than Kaposi-Spiegler sarcoid.Although Kaposi and Spiegler reported both fatal and non-fatal entities, authors over the next 70 years emphasized the latter.This resulted in extensive terminology including lymph~cytoma,~ lymphadenosis beningna cutis,6 cutaneous lym-phopla~ia,~ cutaneous I mphoid hyperplasia,' large cell I mphocytoma! and reactive pseudolymphoma."The term 'pseudolymphoma of Spiegler-Fendt', advocated by Lever,' ' was paramount in blinkering histopathologists to the possibility of malignancy and applied a rubber stamp of 'pseudo-benignity'.Predictably, this was followed by a histopathological travesty with papers describing malignant transformation of pseudolymphoma.12In parallel with these deliberations on the Kaposi-Spiegler spectrum of disease, the status of primary cutaneous B-cell lym homa (CBCL) remained uncertain.Clark et d.," as late as 1974, stated that primary CBCL should not be diagnosed by skin biopsy alone.Furthermore, other authors excluded the diagnosis of primary CBCL if there had been no systemic spread after 5 years.8This arbitrary definition was widely used in studies which analysed histopathological features believed to be useful in the distinction of benign and