Cutaneous (Skin) Lymphoma Symptoms

July 13, 2024

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Alex Herrera, M.D., associate professor, division of lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte

Cutaneous lymphoma symptoms vary depending on the type, but most start on the skin. They may come and go over several years, often going unnoticed. Sometimes, symptoms affect more than the skin alone.

Signs and Symptoms of Cutaneous Lymphoma

Skin changes from cutaneous lymphoma may look different for each patient. These changes may include those listed below.

Papules: These are pimple-like with a small, raised head, and they may feel rough.

Patches: These are areas of red, scaly skin.

Plaques: These flat areas of skin may appear thickened, raised or lowered.

Tumors: These are large, raised lumps below the skin. Sometimes, the skin breaks down (ulcer) and becomes infected.

These lesions may be red, brown or purple. Lesions may also appear darker or lighter than the normal skin color of patients with darker skin.

Over time, papules may become patches, which may change to plaques and then become tumors as the disease progresses.

Itchiness is the most common complaint, especially in Sézary syndrome, an aggressive type of cutaneous lymphoma.

Lymphoma Rash

Skin lymphoma often starts with dry, red, itchy skin. Because this condition often mimics common ailments such as contact dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis, skin lymphoma diagnosis may be delayed.

Sometimes, where a rash appears on the body may help to distinguish these conditions. Lymphoma rashes often occur on skin areas that are protected from the sun. In contrast, eczema tends to occur on the face, inner elbow and behind the knees; contact dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, is usually limited to an area that comes into contact with an irritant. Psoriasis usually affects the elbows, face, scalp, knees, back, feet and palms.

Erythroderma is a reddened rash covering a large body surface, and it is seen more often when skin lymphoma has spread. Skin lymphoma rashes may be hard to diagnose, so it is important for patients to see a doctor who is an expert in this area.

Generalized Cutaneous Lymphoma Symptoms

Cutaneous lymphoma may also cause general symptoms in areas beyond the skin, such as:

• Fever with no known cause
• Unexplained weight loss
• Profuse sweating that soaks through clothes, often happens at night and it is not related to anything else, such as menopause
• Lymph nodes, which are bean-sized organs found in the neck, armpits and groin that help fight infection and may swell as lymphoma cells move into them and be felt as a lump.