Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma in a 26-month-old child with a review of the literature

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma is a rare cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma of the skin that preferentially infiltrates the subcutaneous tissue. We report here this lymphoma occurring in a 26-month-old Korean girl. She presented with multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules on both extremities and her back along with systemic symptoms. She had a protracted course of multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules for 1 month and a spiking fever was often noted. The histopathologic findings for the subcutaneous nodules were lobular panniculitis-like material that was composed of atypical lymphocytes and histiocytes. The atypical lymphocytes characteristically rimmed individual fat cells in a lace-like pattern and some of the histiocytes showed phagocytosed white blood cells occasionally. Immunophenotypic studies showed CD3⁺, CD45RO⁺, CD20^-, CD4^-, CD8⁺, and CD56^-. She is currently being treated with combination chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone.