The Role of Infections in Lymphomas of the Skin

• It is not exactly a secret that when things go wrong in lymphocytes, which are so important in immunosurveillance, there are consequences on the organism’s defense against external agents. Conversely, as this review shows, infectious agents might be able to regulate T lymphocytes.

• Soft cell tumors affect lymphonodes, but they can initially affect the skin such as in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)

• The cause of this malignant degeneration is largely unknown, but the following review explores the potential role of infectious agents on the skin in the development of CTCL:

1. Staphylococcus Aureus
2. Retroviruses
3. Herpesviruses

For full access to the free article in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), click here.

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Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information: Infectious agents in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Mirvish ED, Pomerantz RG, Geskin LJ. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Feb;64(2):423-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.11.692.