General Information About Mycosis Fungoides
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is not a type of skin cancer (melanoma), but rather a specific type of lymphoma (hematologic malignancy) where white blood cells (T-lymphocytes) become malignant and infiltrate the skin directly, rather than circulating in the bloodstream.
In the early stages of the disease (patch and plaque stages), erythematous, scaly, and pruritic lesions appear on the skin. Until these lesions gain complete clarity under the microscope, they are often misdiagnosed as eczema or fungal infections for years and treated with ointments.
In the early stages, flat, red patches are present on the skin. Over the years, these patches thicken and evolve into raised plaques. In the most advanced (tumor) stage, massive red/purple cancerous masses develop on the skin, resembling mushrooms or tomatoes and forming ulcerations.
The disease typically remains confined to the skin for many years. However, in some advanced cases (Sézary Syndrome), malignant cells re-enter the bloodstream from the skin, spreading to the lymph nodes and visceral organs such as the liver/spleen, resulting in a systemic leukemia presentation.
Sequential skin biopsies are obtained from suspected eczema-like lesions and evaluated in pathology. A definitive diagnosis is established upon observing the atypical (malignant) alignment of lymphocyte cells.
In the early stages, the disease can be completely halted with skin-directed UV light therapy (PUVA/phototherapy), localized radiotherapy, and topical corticosteroid or chemotherapeutic creams. In advanced tumoral stages, systemic chemotherapy and targeted smart drugs are mandatory.
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