Immunosuppression-associated primary cutaneous plasmablastic lymphoma secondary to romidepsin

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare subtype of large B-cell lymphoma most commonly seen in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with HIV infection. In these patients, PBL often affects the oral mucosa.1 Other immunocompromised states, including immunosuppression for organ transplant and immunosenescence, have been linked to PBL.1 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation is thought to be a major driver of PBL.1 PBL is characterized histologically by an absence of B- and T-cell markers and expression of plasma cell markers CD38 and CD138. The median overall survival of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with PBL is 15 months and 9 months, respectively.1 Some patients with PBL present with primary cutaneous disease (pcPBL), defined as no systemic involvement. These patients have a unique clinical presentation and an indolent course. We report the first case of iatrogenic pcPBL secondary to romidepsin therapy for primary cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (pcPTCL-NOS).