Narrowband UVB phototherapy for early-stage mycosis fungoides.
BACKGROUND
Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy has been shown to be effective for the treatment of various dermatoses.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effect of NB-UVB in the treatment of early stage mycosis fungoides (MF).


METHODS
The response of 24 patients (12 stage IA, 12 stage IB) with patch stage MF to thrice weekly NB-UVB was assessed. Twelve patients had skin phototypes I-III, and 12 had types IV-VI. Seven patients had hypopigmented MF. Mean follow-up period was 29.0 weeks.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (54.2%) had a complete response (CR), 7 (29.2%) had partial response (PR), and 4 (16.7%) had no response. Specimens from a repeat biopsy in 10 patients with CR showed histologic clearing in 9 of them. Upon discontinuation of treatment, 4 patients with CR relapsed, with a mean time to relapse of 12.5 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
NB-UVB is a viable, comparably safe, and easily administered alternative in the management of early stage MF.
Gathers
Raechele Cochran
RC
Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202-2689, USA.
Scherschun
Lubomira
L
Malick
Farah
F
Fivenson
David P
DP
Lim
Henry W
HW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy