Primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic CD8+ T-cell lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas most commonly have a CD4+ memory T-cell phenotype with relatively indolent course, but may in rare cases present with a CD8+ cytotoxic phenotype exhibiting strikingly more aggressive clinical behavior. We present two cases of the clinically aggressive subtype of primary cutaneous epidermotropic CD8+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and review the current literature, clinical behavior, and recommendations for treatment distinct from that of more common CD4+ variants of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.