Cutaneous lymphomas and COVID ‐19: What is known so far?

Abstract

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic spreads quickly all over the world. There are no sufficient data in the literature about COVID‐19 infection and cutaneous lymphomas. This review sheds the light on what is known so far about COVID‐19 with a cutaneous lymphoma perspective. Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) diagnosis does not represent a predisposing factor to viral infections and most of CTCL patients have indolent disease. However, physicians should be cautious with patients with aggressive primary cutaneous lymphomas and advanced CTCL. Different treatment strategies for cutaneous lymphomas should be taken into consideration during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Thus, it is highly needed to estimate the benefit‐to‐risk ratio on a case‐by‐case basis.

Patients with primary cutaneous lymphoma are at risk for severe COVID‐19. Data from the Spanish Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry

“…The United States CL Consortium and the EORTC CLTF established some general recommendations for the treatment of PCLs during the COVID-19 pandemic 5,6 while some authors suggested that PCL does not increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2. 7 As far as we know, this study is the first to describe the incidence and severity of COVID-19 among PCL patients.…”

“…A. S anchez-Vel azquez, 1 A. Bauer-Alonso, 2 T. Estrach, 3 D. Vega-D ıez, 4 P. Garcia-Muret, 5 L. Haya, 6 Y. Peñate, 7 E. Acebo, 8 R. Fern andez de Misa, 9 M. Blanes, 10 H.J. Suh-Oh, 11 R. Izu, 12 E. Silva-D ıaz, 13 J. Sarriugarte, 14 C. Rom an-Curto, 15 R. Botella-Estrada, 16 A.…”

A cross-sectional questionnaire study in a phototherapy unit during COVID-19

“…The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in phototherapy units is unknown [2,6,7]. In July 2020, Lim et al [2] published recommendations for how to manage and deliver phototherapy services during the pandemic based on the consensus opinion of experts.…”

“…Specialists recommend that phototherapy units should operate based on local public health recommendations and the orientations of the infection control center of the institution where the service is located since the risk of coronavirus infection depends on the local prevalence of the illness [2]. Elmasry et al [7] suggested that low-risk patients with indolent cutaneous lymphoma could postpone phototherapy and be treated with potent topical steroids. From the start of the social distancing period, our phototherapy unit followed recommendations which were in line with those of the hospital's infection control service and the national Ministry of Health even though neither set of guidelines had been specifically developed for phototherapy services.…”

Clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and COVID-19

“…One study reported that patients with cutaneous lymphomas infected with SARS-CoV-2 have the same susceptibility and outcomes as those without cutaneous lymphomas infected with SARS-CoV-2. 3 However, advanced age and long-term immunosuppressive therapy may place patients with cutaneous lymphomas at risk of lifethreatening complications. 4,5 We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on patients with primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) at our institution.…”