CD30-positive cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: clinicopathological features and survival outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of CD30 expression in cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma is controversial.

METHODS: Clinicopathological features, survival outcomes, and prognostic implications of CD30 were retrospectively analyzed in 55 patients with cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma. We classified patients into (i) primary cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma and (ii) cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma secondary to nasal disease depending on the primary tumor site.

RESULTS: CD30+ cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma was more common in patients with cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma secondary to nasal disease than in those with primary cutaneous disease. CD30+ cases were more likely to present nodular lesions or cellulitis-like swelling than CD30- cases. Histologically, CD30+ cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma predominantly comprised large tumor cells compared with CD30- cases. However, the clinical morphology and tumor cell size were not associated with survival outcomes. CD30 expression was associated with better survival outcomes in patients with cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma secondary to nasal disease.

CONCLUSION: CD30+ cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma presented peculiar clinicopathological features and had more favorable disease course in patients with cutaneous dissemination from nasal disease.