Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Cutaneous Lymphoma

The exact cause of cutaneous lymphoma isn’t known, but scientists know that it begins with a mutation of the white blood cells’ infection-fighting lymphocytes. T-cell lymphoma begins in the lymph tissue, which is found all over the body, including the bone marrow, skin, spleen, tonsils and intestines.

Diagnosing cutaneous lymphoma

A diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma begins with a physical exam and assessment of your medical history. Your physician may order a biopsy (tissue sample) of a skin tumor or lymph node to confirm the diagnosis. A sample may also be taken from the lymph nodes, bone marrow and blood to look for lymphoma cells to help determine the stage of the disease.