Photochemotherapy in mycosis fungoides. A study of 73 patients

Seventy-three patients with mycosis fungoides were treated with photochemotherapy and followed up for 2 to 39 months. Photochemotherapy produced clinical and histological clearing in a very high proportion of patients with stage 0 to II disease. The response in patients with tumours was less satisfactory, and a high proportion of these patients required local radiotherapy to resistant lesions. Maintenance treatment with photochemotherapy may keep many patients with stage 0 to II disease in remission for up to 3 years, but patients with advanced disease may relapse despite maintenance treatment. Patients with all stages of mycosis fungoides may relapse when maintenance treatment is withdrawn.