Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma
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Synopsis
While cHV is a self-limited condition of children and early adolescence marked by pruritic papulovesicles and bullae confined to sun-exposed areas, both HV-LPD and HVLL present as atypical and severe forms of HV with increasingly frequent and severe recurrences, a more prolonged course extending past the normal age that cHV tends to remit (late teens), and the presence of systemic findings. These patients have facial edema, vesiculonecrotic and hemorrhagic lesions, and more severe scarring. Systemic findings include fever, hepatitis, hematological abnormalities, lymphadenopathy, and hemophagocytosis. Oral lesions and ocular inflammation including conjunctivitis and keratitis may occur. A coexisting hypersensitivity to mosquito bites has also been reported. As disease severity increases, lesions develop on areas of the body not directly exposed to sunlight.
Some studies indicate no apparent sexual predilection, while others favor a slight male predominance. Patients with HV-LPD from Asia and Latin / South America are reported, in small studies, to have more severe HV-LPD and higher rates of progression to HVLL than are those from Europe and North America.
Codes
ICD10CM:C84.Z0 – Other mature T/NK-cell lymphomas, unspecified site
SNOMEDCT:
763719001 – Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Classic hydroa vacciniforme – Seasonal outbreaks to sun-exposed areas only. Not progressive or systemic. Tends to resolve in late adolescence.
- Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) – Other SLE findings. Positive direct immunofluorescent histopathology and positive ANA or anti-DSDNA.
- Actinic prurigo – Similar presentation as cHV, intense pruritis. Tip of nose involvement along with fissured cheilitis help distinguish.
- Erythropoietic protoporphyria – Painful edema, erythema, petechia, and purpura. Papules and vesicles less common. Erythrocyte porphyrin levels elevated.
- Vesiculobullous forms of polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) – No scarring and rarely systemic symptoms. Less frequent outbreaks as sunny season progresses ("hardening").
- Xeroderma pigmentosum – Lentigines, dyspigmentation, and xerosis, with skin cancer formation at a young age.
- Hartnup disease – Erythematous, hyperkeratotic, well-demarcated, photodistributed eruption. Pellagra-like due to tryptophan malabsorption.
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Last Reviewed:04/01/2022
Last Updated:04/25/2022
Last Updated:04/25/2022