Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/leukemia

Effective treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) requires an accurate and specific diagnosis based on the clinical presentation combined with evaluation of the histopathology, immunophenotyping, and gene rearrangement studies. Careful clinical and pathologic evaluation in centers familiar with the diverse forms of CTCL is most valuable for determining treatment options. The goals of treatment in mycosis fungoides (MF), which afflicts more than 50% of patients with CTCL, are the relief of symptoms and improvement in cosmetics. Despite some uncontrolled clinical trial results that have been reported to suggest "cures" in this disease, the general perception remains that this disease is not curable with standard therapies available today. Treatment is divided into topical (skin-directed) and systemic therapy. The most active systemic agent for the treatment of MF remains interferon-alpha, although many new modalities have recently been approved for the treatment of CTCL.