Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in Saudi Arabia: retrospective single-center review

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is an uncommon disease with various clinical presentations. The hypopigmented type is more common in individuals with a dark skin complexion. Moreover, childhood CTCL is more common in Mediterranean populations in comparison to the West. OBJECTIVE: To describe CTCL in the Saudi population. DESIGN: A retrospective collection of data on all cases of CTCL from 2010–2016. SETTING: Dermatology clinic at a tertiary center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data on all cases of CTCL diagnosed clinically and confirmed pathologically. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The number of cases of CTCL, gender, age at diagnosis and clinical subtypes. RESULTS: The most common presentation among 125 patients was the classic type (patches and plaques) followed by the hypopigmented and poikilodermatous variants. Males were 58% of the population (n=72). The median age at diagnosis was 41 years and the range was 5 to 86 years. Thirteen percent were younger than 20 years of age. CONCLUSION: Hypopigmented and poikilodermatous types of CTCL are more common in our population than in the West. LIMITATION: Retrospective, single-center data may not be generalizable since difficult cases are more likely to be referred to a tertiary center.