A case report of mantle cell lymphoma manifesting as a foot lesion

Abstract

Introduction: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that most commonly affects men above the age of 60 years. The disease is called MCL because the tumor cells originate from the mantle zone of the lymph node. The most commonly affected sites are the lymph nodes, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, Waldeyer's ring and rarely the skin, breast and central nervous system. Only 22 cases with skin manifestation of MCL have been reported so far.

Case: We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who was diagnosed with MCL and underwent treatment, but later relapsed and presented with an ulcerated mass over her right foot. She underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy with bendamustine plus rituximab and responded with resolution of the foot lesion.

Discussion and conclusions: MCL is an aggressive lymphoma with a median overall survival of 3-5 years for advanced disease, while early-stage disease has a better prognosis. It rarely involves the skin. Since cutaneous lesions can be the first manifestation of MCL, awareness of this less common presentation is crucial to establish an early diagnosis and pursue treatment as early as possible, as it significantly impacts the survival rate.