Systemic sclerosis revealing T-cell lymphoma

Abstract

We describe a case of systemic sclerosis (SSc) occurring together with malignant lymphoma. A 43-year-old man, who had noticed sclerodactyly 1 month before consultation, was admitted for progressive skin sclerosis on his forearms and chest. SSc was diagnosed. Immediately after admission, skin sclerosis rapidly extended to the neck and trunk, and subcutaneous tumors developed on the neck, chest and back. Skin sclerosis was prominent at the sites where subcutaneous tumors were present. The tumors were diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of T-cell phenotype derived from soft tissue. Following 4 cycles of chemotherapy, he had complete remission and the skin sclerosis remarkably improved. It is possible that cytokines produced by T-cell lymphoma cells were responsible for the development of skin sclerosis in this case.