Cutaneous lymphoblastoma; report of two unusual cases of reticulum cell sarcoma with emphasis on cutaneous touch smears.

THE VALUE of cutaneous touch smears as a diagnostic aid has been emphasized in several studies.*We wish to report two unusual cases of lymphoblastoma that demonstrate the value of this procedure in establishing the correct diagnosis. REPORT OF CASES Case1.—A 33-year-old white man was first seen at the Mayo Clinic in April, 1949. In November, 1948, nodular lesions had appeared over the sternum; these gradually became generalized, but spared the scalp, face, palms, and soles. No local or systemic symptoms were noted. Physical examination revealed a generalized cutaneous eruption consisting of discrete fawn-colored to red papules and nodules ranging from 1 to 10 mm. in diameter (Fig. la). The axillary and inguinal lymph nodes were palpable, and hypertrophy of the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue was present. Cutaneous biopsy from the abdomen revealed reticulum cell sarcoma, and touch smears made from the surface of the biopsy specimen revealed immature reticuloendothelial cells (Fig. 2). Urinalysis showed nothing abnormal. Results of quantitative studies