4th June 2025

Aetiology

The aetiology of CBCL is not entirely known; it has been proposed that CBCL stems from chronic inflammation in the skin (e.g. from bacterial or viral infections) which gradually transforms into a lymphoma. Viruses such as human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) are known to be strongly associated with some non-cutaneous lymphomas, however the data for causative agents in CBCL is lacking.

CBCL has also been associated with methotrexate, and has been found to improve once methotrexate is stopped – perhaps due to its immunosuppressive effect allowing the unchecked proliferation of B-cells.