Lymphography in the assessment of mycosis fungoides

Extracutaneous manifestations of mycosis fungoides imply a bad prognosis and are a major cause of death. Benign dermatopathic lymphadenopathy is associated with mycosis fungoides and often precedes lymphomatous infiltration. In this study, 10 patients in the early stages of mycosis fungoides underwent clinical and lymphographical examinations. In one the lymphoma was already present in lymph nodes. Six had signs of dermatopathic adenopathy which was verified by lymph node biopsy in 5. In one of these the disease later progressed to a malignant lymphoma. The frequent occurrence of lymph node involvement justifies the use of lymphography collaterally with staging laparotomy to determine the presence of pathologic retroperitoneal lymph nodes.