Mycosis fungoides natural history, complications and prognosis

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma Microchapters
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Overview
Classification Mycosis fungoides Sezary syndrome
Pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sowminya Arikapudi, M.B,B.S. [2]

Overview

If left untreated, cutaneous T cell lymphoma may progress to develop patches , plaque, and tumors. Depending on the extent of the lymphoma at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary.

Natural history

• Cutaneous T cell lymphoma is usually initially seen by dermatologists with patients presenting with skin lesions
• Patients often have a history of several years of eczematous or dermatitic skin lesions before the diagnosis is finally established
• The skin lesions then progress from the patch stage to the plaque stage to cutaneous tumors
• Mycosis fungoides is initially an indolent lymphoma that may later develop peripheral lymphadenopathy and can finally progress to widespread visceral involvement.

Prognosis

• Cutaneous T cell lymphoma is usually a slow-growing (indolent) lymphoma
• The prognosis for people with cutaneous T cell lymphoma is based on the extent of disease and how the person responds to treatment
• Although more advanced stages of cutaneous T cell lymphoma may not be cured, the lymphoma can still be controlled with treatment

Favorable prognosis

• Early stage disease
• Lymphoma is confined to the skin

Unfavorable prognosis

• More advanced disease
• Lymphoma has spread to lymph nodes
• Lymphoma has spread to other organs

References

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