An Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative lesion of the skin presenting as recurrent necrotic papulovesicles of the face

Abstract

We describe four patients with lymphoproliferative lesions confined to the skin for several years. They presented with recurrent necrotic papulovesicles of the face. Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was detected in the lymphoid cells from the skin lesions by in situ hybridization. The disease in three patients progressed to T-cell lymphoma. We believe that these patients represent a subset of peripheral T-cell lymphoma with a tendency to localize in the skin.