HTLV-I-associated lymphoma presenting as mycosis fungoides in an HTLV-I non-endemic area: a viro-molecular study.
Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is endemic in the Caribbean region, south-western Japan and Africa, and is associated with tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Cutaneous forms of ATLL are sometimes indistinguishable from other cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). We report a woman living in a non-endemic area for HTLV-I, with no risk factors for viral infection, who developed mycosis fungoides-like ATLL. The findings underline the usefulness of molecular biological techniques in distinguishing between mycosis fungoides and ATLL. We emphasize the need to establish the HTLV-I status of patients with CTCL, even in HTLV-I non-endemic areas, not only to establish a preventive policy in these countries, but also to further our knowledge of the lymphoproliferation spectrum associated with human retroviruses.
D'Incan
M
M
Laboratory of Research on Hepatitis, AIDS and Human Retroviruses, INSERM U 271, Lyon, France.
Antoniotti
O
O
Gasmi
M
M
Fonck
Y
Y
Chassagne
J
J
Desgranges
C
C
Souteyrand
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral