Imaging cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with optical coherence tomography

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Optical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a type of T-cell lymphoma affecting the skin.
• Patch-stage CTCL presents as erythematous, scaly patches on the skin.
• Accurate diagnosis and monitoring of CTCL are crucial for effective treatment.

Observation:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image a patient with patch-stage CTCL.
• A normal skin area was scanned for comparison.
• OCT images were compared with histological findings.

Findings:

• OCT revealed a thickened, hyperreflective stratum corneum in the CTCL patch.
• Elongated, hyporeflective structures consistent with lymphomatous infiltrates were observed in the dermis.
• A strong correlation was found between OCT imaging and histology.

Implications:

• OCT may serve as a valuable non-invasive tool for in vivo investigation of CTCL, including mycosis fungoides.
• Observed OCT patterns could potentially reflect the biological behavior of cutaneous lymphoma infiltrates.
• Further research is needed to validate these OCT findings in larger cohorts.