Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma at the Site of Resolving Herpes Zoster

Abstract

Cutaneous pseudolymphoma comprises inflammatory lesions with histologic characteristics that closely resemble malignant lymphoreticular proliferation, but that have a benign clinical course. The etiology of this disorder is unknown. We report herein a case of pseudolymphoma appearing within resolving lesions of herpes zoster in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Report of a Case An 83-year-old man had chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed in 1975. He had been in remission for three years after undergoing oral chemotherapy. In June 1979, he visited our clinic with a painful skin eruption along the extensor aspect of the left arm. It consisted of grouped vesicles with crusting and erythema. A Tzanck smear was done that confirmed the diagnosis of herpes zoster. The patient was treated with wet compresses and oral analgesics. Two weeks later, at the site of the previous vesicular eruption, there were scattered 3- to 8-mm erythematoviolaceous papules. The lesions were treated with