Peculiarities of Cutaneous Lymphomas among Blacks and Management Conundrums in Resource Limited Settings

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous lymphomas(PCLs) are a rare and heterogenous group of lymphoproliferative neoplasms that very often pose a diagnostic challenge particularly in resource limited countries. People of African ancestry have a higher disease burden, a younger age at onset and poorer treatment outcome. Withal, research focusing on clinical pattern, behavior and treatment of PCLs in blacks is scarce and as such, advances in knowledge of the pathogenesis of PCLs as well as the discovery of newer molecular markers that have revolutionized diagnosis and treatment are yet to translate to improved clinical outcomes in blacks.

AIMS AND METHODS: This review aims to provide an overview of the unique features of PLC in blacks using data from existing scientific works describing cutaneous lymphomas in context of the black skin. We highlight the peculiarities of the disease in blacks as well as provide an insight into the challenges of diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous lymphomas in resource limited environments.

CONCLUSION: There are poorly understood racial influences on the epidemiology, clinical and histological pattern of primary cutaneous lymphomas with therapeutic and prognostic implications. Paucity of research on the subject matter among Africans precludes accurate characterization of cutaneous lymphomas in blacks. More studies are therefore required on PCLs in blacks particularly in Africa, to enhance our understanding of these peculiarities which may ultimately translate to improvement in diagnosis, preventive strategies and treatment outcomes.