Abstract: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) have similar clinieopathology and immunophenotype, in order to differentiate the two diseases, 4 eases of ATLL associated cutaneous lesions and 18 eases of CL were studied for elinieopathology, immunophenotype and HTLV-I provirus DNA. Two eases of actinic reticuloid and two eases of lymphocytic infiltration of the skin were selected as negative control. The results showed that four patients of ATLL manifested cutaneous lesions, at same time, they had additional systemic diseases, such as generalized lymphadenopathy, increased levels of LDH and IL-2R, rosette-like cells in their peripheral blood and abnormal bone marrow. The HTLV-I provirus DNA was detected in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, cutaneous lesions and lymph node biopsy specimens of the four patients by PCR amplification of specific HTLV-I DNA fragment. 18 cases of CL were negative for HTLV-I. The study indicates that ATLL may be diagnosed if the patients are associated with CTCL-Iike cutaneous lesions, characteristic histopathological pattern and immunophenotype, rosette-like cells in the peripheral blood and positive HTLV-I provirus DNA.

Key words: Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma, Lymphoma, cutaneous, HTLV-I provirus, DNA