Clinical and histopathological spectrum of mycosis fungoides

Abstract EN

Background: Early diagnosis of mycosis fungoides is essential but difficult and can be easily missed because it mimics many inflammatory skin diseases both clinically and histopathologically.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and pathological features of mycosis fungoides.

Design: A Retrospective Study.

Setting: King Hussein Medical Center, Jordan University Hospital, Al-Karak Governmental Teaching Hospital.

Method: All patients diagnosed with mycosis fungoides from 2000 to 2015 were included in the study.

The patients’ clinical data were retrieved.

The histopathological findings were interpreted by a dermatopathologist.

Hematoxylin and Eosin routine stain was used for histopathological interpretation.

Immunophenotyping stain was performed for few cases; T-cell rearrangement was not performed.

Result: Sixty-three patients diagnosed with mycosis fungoides were included in this study; 43 were males and 20 females.

Male to female ratio was 2.15:1.

Age ranged from 11-80 years; the mean age was 45 years.

The lesions involved the trunk and proximal extremities in the majority of the cases.

Different clinical variants of mycosis fungoides were seen in the patients: 25 (39.6%) classical mycosis fungoides, 7 (11%) hypopigmented mycosis fungoides, 2 (3.1%) hyperpigmented mycosis fungoides, 6 (9.5%) poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides, 1 (1.6%) folliculotropic mycosis fungoides, 1 (1.6%) erythrodermic mycosis fungoides, 1 (1.6%) ichthyosiform mycosis fungoides and 1 (1.6%) purpuric mycosis fungoides.

Conclusion: Mycosis fungoides can mimic different inflammatory skin diseases.

However, early proper skin biopsy could be helpful for early diagnosis.