Lymphomatoid papulosis associated with pregnancy

We report a case of lymphomatoid papulosis which developed in a 29-year-old pregnant woman. She had numerous papules scattered over the inner aspect of the left thigh. Histology of the biopsy specimen demonstrated an atypical mononuclear cell infiltration of the dermis. Spontaneous regression of the lesions occurred after termination of gestation. A possible effect of hormonal changes and alterations in T lymphocyte activity during pregnancy on the occurrence of lymphomatoid papulosis is discussed. In 1968, Macaulay introduced the term lymphomatoid papulosis for a chronic self-healing skin lesion which was clinically benign and histologically malignant. Clinically, lymphomatoid papulosis consists of involuting and recurring papules, plaques and nodules. Histopathologically, the lesion is characterized by an atypical lymphoid infiltrate which resembles malignant lymphoma. Immunohistochemically, the atypical lymphoid cells bear T-cell markers and are characterized by the expression of Ki-1 or CD30. We describe the first case of typical lymphomatoid papulosis which developed during pregnancy.