Background: Primary cutaneous lymphomas (CLs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases arising from B or T lymphocytes. CLs are grouped according to their clinical behaviour into indolent, intermediate and aggressive types. Indolent CLs respond well to therapy but frequently relapse, resulting in prolonged periods of follow-up.
Objectives: To evaluate the outcome of follow-up examinations in indolent CL.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed a cohort from a CL outpatient clinic at a tertiary referral centre. Seventy-five patients with indolent cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) and 34 patients with indolent cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) were included. The value of clinical examination, blood tests and imaging procedures for detection of recurrence or progression was assessed.
Results: In patients with CTCL all but one disease recurrences were detected by clinical examination. Lymph node or organ involvement was detected by imaging procedures in seven patients, of whom all but one had recurrent or persistent CL lesions. In CBCL all recurrences were detected by clinical examination.
Conclusions: Patients with indolent CL confined to the skin should be followed primarily by clinical examination. However, in patients who are refractory to treatment regular screening of lymph nodes by ultrasound may enable earlier detection of disease recurrence or progression.
© 2012 The Authors. BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists.