In this report, we describe the analysis of clonality performed using a PCR-based approach in a group of
cutaneous T-cell lymphomas including a case of localised
pagetoid reticulosis expressing the
gamma delta T-cell receptor. For our PCR analysis
DNA was extracted from frozen tissue of 10 cases of
cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and subjected to polymerase chain reaction amplification using primers recognizing conserved sequences of the variable and joining regions of the
T-cell receptor gamma chain gene. PCR products were then analyzed by high resolution non-denaturing
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Clonal TCR gamma gene rearrangements were detected in all the cases investigated including the case of localised
pagetoid reticulosis. The PCR-based approach used in this study may provide an alternative to conventional Southern blot analysis for the analysis of
cutaneous T-cell lymphomas as it is easy to perform and requires only minimal amounts of
DNA. The findings in localized
pagetoid reticulosis are consistent with the proliferation of monoclonal T-cells in lesional skin of this condition and provide evidence for the lymphoproliferative nature of this clinically benign disorder.