Leukemia cutis in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia presenting as bilateral helical nodules

Introduction

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is considered an indolent but incurable non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is the most common adult leukemia worldwide. Leukemia cutis (LC) is an uncommon manifestation of CLL. It is rarely manifested as bilateral auricular involvement. We present a case of an adult patient who presented with skin lesion of bilateral ears, which leads to the diagnosis of CLL. We also review the literature of related cases.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old male, with no significant past medical history, noted skin changes involving both ears about 3 years prior to initial presentation (Figure 1). He described it as non-tender, reddish discoloration of both auricles. He did not note significant changes in appearance or progression since that time. There were no associated B symptoms initially. The patient finally decided to seek medical attention for cosmetic reason. On examination, he was found to have plum-colored swellings involving the helices of both ears. He was also found to have cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy. Computed tomography (CT) scans confirm the presence of lymphadenopathy. There was no evidence of hepatosplenomegaly. Complete blood count (CBC) showed leukocytosis 19.1/L with lymphocyte predominance 11.1/L, hemoglobin (Hb) was 15.5 g/dL and platelet count (PLT) was 122,000/µL. Biopsies (Figure 2) of these skin lesions were performed and results were suggestive of a low-grade B-cell lymphoma (initial immunohistochemical (IHC) stain positive for CD20, few positive for CD3 and negative for CD30). A lymph node biopsy was consistent with CD5-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative neoplasm, with co-expression of dim CD20 and CD23, favoring small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)/CLL. Rai stage was 1. Peripheral blood smear and flow cytometry confirmed circulating CLL and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated a 13q deletion, which is a favorable prognostic factor. ZAP-70 result was indeterminate; however, CD38 expression was positive.

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Figure 1.

Leukemia cutis as bilateral helical lesion before and after chemotherapy.

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Figure 2.

(a) Histopathology demonstrating dense mononuclear cell infiltrate (hematoxylin and eosin; 10×), (b) immunohistochemical (IHC) stains strongly and diffusely positive for CD20, (c) IHC stain positive for CD5; 40× and (d) IHC stain positive for CD23; 40×.

After initial discussion regarding local radiation therapy, the patient opted for watch-and-wait approach. After 6 months, the patient developed significant fatigue and drenching night sweats for 1 month. At this time, CBC showed leukocytosis 17.1/L with lymphocyte predominance 9.7/L, Hb was 16 g/dL and PLT was 126,000/µL.

Because of systemic involvement, ¹ it was decided to commence treatment. We discussed the standard therapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR).^2,3 However, the patient was still working full-time and was planning his wedding in the near future. He, therefore, adamantly refused aggressive cytotoxic chemotherapy for fear of change in current quality of life. We, therefore, discussed less intense therapy with chlorambucil and obinutuzumab. ⁴ This is a very active regimen and currently recommended first-line therapy for elderly or “less fit” patient. He understood that risk of earlier relapse with this regimen may be higher, but he insisted that his quality of life was paramount. He, therefore, chose to be treated with chlorambucil and obinutuzumab. He received six cycles, which he tolerated very well. His B symptoms resolved and he was fully able to perform his daily routine including work-related activities. The patient had an excellent response to therapy. The skin lesions regressed (Figure 1) and the lymphadenopathy resolved. Counts were within normal limits. Repeat peripheral blood flow cytometry did not show any immunophenotypic evidence of an abnormal population of B-lymphocytes. Upon his last follow-up, 2 years since starting chemotherapy, he still remained in complete remission. ¹

Discussion

CLL is classified as an indolent but incurable NHL. It is the most common adult leukemia worldwide. Among all leukemia in the United States, CLL accounts for 25%–30% of cases. ⁵

Cutaneous eruptions in CLL have been described in 4%–20% of CLL patients and is relatively rare entity as compared to T-cell leukemia.^6,7 It may be manifested primarily as LC or more commonly as secondary lesions such as purpura, pruritus, urticaria, erythroderma, pyoderma gangrenosum, cutaneous vasculitis and Sweet’s syndrome. The skin lesions, in some cases, developed at the previously affected healed sites of Borrelia burgdorferi, herpes zoster and herpes simplex.^8–10 Typically, skin manifestations happen late in the natural history of the disease, often after multiple treatment and recurrence. This early presentation is far less common.

The term LC is referred to the cutaneous infiltration by malignant leukocytes, clinically manifested as cutaneous lesions. ¹¹ LC has been described in patients with acute and chronic leukemia including acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), myelodysplastic syndromes and CLL. ¹² LC in CLL is far less common and is seen in less than 5% of cases.

CLL can appear solely as clonal B-cell infiltrate in the skin and may be considered as part of the differential even in the absence of systemic involvement such as lymphocytosis or lymphadenopathy. ¹³ LC, in CLL, is characterized by infiltrates comprised of monotonous population of small lymphoid cells with round nuclear contours. Cerroni et.al. ¹⁴ have described three main architectural patterns in a large case series of 42 CLL patients with LC. These identifiable patterns include (1) perivascular and periadnexal (lymphoid infiltrate around vessels/adnexal structures), (2) nodular and diffuse (nodules of neoplastic cells) like in our patient and (3) relatively rare band-like (lymphoid infiltrate arranged as band-like pattern). The neoplastic B cells co-express CD20, CD43, CD23 and CD5 per IHC.

LC in CLL, as exclusive and localized auricular manifestation, was first described by Gotay ¹⁵ in 1976. Auricular LC usually occurs in older patients with known history of CLL; however, it may present in relatively young patients like ours as a heralding manifestation of CLL that leads to the diagnosis of CLL. These lesions may mimic many nonmalignant conditions, such as infectious (leprosy, leishmaniasis and tuberculosis) or inflammatory; sarcoidosis, perniosis, relapsing polychondritis, auricular pseudocyst and trauma/hematoma. There are also other neoplastic conditions including primary lymphoma, (especially cutaneous T-cell lymphoma), lymphocytoma cutis, Rosai–Dorfman disease and multicentric reticulohistiocytosis that may resemble the auricular involvement of CLL. Tables 1 and 2 represent the reported cases and their outcomes in which auricular LC manifested either years^3–14 after the diagnosis of CLL or presented as early manifestation of CLL followed by the identification of the underlying CLL disease, respectively. Our patient is among the youngest of the reported cases.

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Table 1.

Auricular involvement in patients (years after the diagnosis of CLL).

Case	Time period (years)	Age (years)	Gender	Clinical lesion	Treatment	Outcome
Gotay 15	14	65	Male	Non-tender, violaceous bilateral symmetrical ear lobe swelling	RT	Regressed
Colburn et al. 16	10	59	Male	Painless, erythematous lesions on both ears	RT	Regressed
Jasim et al. 17	10	63	Male	Plum-colored swelling of the skin of the ears, eyebrows, tip of the nose and the scalp	Not known	Not known
Koletsa et al. 18	3	67	Male	Bilateral ear lobe papules	FCR	Regressed
Lu et al. 19	10	57	Male	Plum-colored swelling involving the prominent parts of the ears (helix, tragus and ear lobe), the eyebrows, nose and toes	None (patient declined)	NA

CLL: chronic lymphocytic leukemia; RT: radiation therapy; FCR: fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab.

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Table 2.

Auricular involvement in CLL patients (early manifestation).

Case	Age (years)	Gender	Clinical lesion	Treatment	outcome
Porter et al. 20	59	Male	Painful nodules on his ears and nose	UVB phototherapy	Regressed
Colburn et al. 16	61	Male	Erythematous nodules on the helices of both ears	RT	Regressed
Kim and Sheth 21	73	Male	Cauliflower-like, non-tender plum-colored lesions involving both ears	R-CVP	Regressed
Vester et al. 22	40	Male	Painless erythematous swelling of both earlobes	RT	Regressed
Kindem et al. 23	44	Male	Erythematous nodules cover the helices and lobes of the right and left ears	Unknown	Unknown
Walker et al. 24	39	Male	Erythematous nodules and papules on the helix, tragus and lobule	RT	Regressed
2015 (current case)	45	Male	Painless plum-colored swellings involving the helices of both ears	Chlorambucil and obinutuzumab	Regressed

CLL: chronic lymphocytic leukemia; RT: radiation therapy; R-CVP: rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone; UVB: ultraviolet light B.

Patient survival is not affected by LC; however, occasionally it may be associated with poor prognosis in patients when LC presenting as a late presentation of B-CLL or as myeloid leukemia, blastic transformation (Richter’s syndrome) and T-cell CLL.^14,16,25

Conventional therapy for CLL involves systemic chemotherapy usually combined with a monoclonal antibody ² or newer tyrosine kinase inhibitor like ibrutinib ²⁶ and idelalisib. However, LC of CLL can be treated with local therapy. Many therapeutic options have been reported that have given promising results with respect to local control of these lesions. These include radiation therapy, ²⁷ excision, intralesional steroids, ultraviolet light B ²⁰ and electro-chemotherapy ²⁸ with bleomycin. We successfully treated our patient with systemic immunochemotherapy due to the presence of systemic signs and symptoms.

Conclusion

Our case, by describing bilateral helical involvement of the ear as a characteristic finding in CLL, exemplifies that it can be a harbinger of the disease. It adds to a list of exceedingly rare and early cutaneous presentation of CLL that leads to the diagnosis. CLL should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patient when presented with bilateral auricular lesions. Further investigation, better awareness and prompt diagnosis of this LC of CLL will enhance our current understanding of disease evolution as well as effectiveness and outcome of its management.