Abstract: Objective To report the first case of cutaneous type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma(cATLL) in China. Methods The skin lesion was examined by histopathology and direct immunofluorescence (DIF), and the immunophenotype was also studied. ELISA and Western blot were used to test the serum antibodies to HTLV-Ⅰ, and HTLV-Ⅰproviral DNA of lymphoid cells was detected by PCR. Results The patient had polymorphic skin lesions including papules, plaques, and bullae with tense or flaccid walls. Histopathogical examination showed subepidermal bullae, and there were small-to-medium-sized atypical lymphoid cell infiltrations in the dermal papilla in the bottom, and border of the bulla. CD45⁺ and CD45RO⁺ staining, and negative DIF were observed in the atypical lymphoid cells. The serum antibodies to HTLV-Ⅰ, and proviral DNA of HTLV-Ⅰin the blood lymphoid cells were detected. The patient died with a disease course of one year and ten months. Conclusion ATLL is not extremely rare in China, and cATLL may also exist.

Key words: Leukemia-lymphoma, T-cell, acute, HTLV-Ⅰ-associated