Defining early mycosis fungoides.
This editorial review summarizes the results of 5 meetings sponsored by the International Society for Cutaneous Lymphoma at which the clinicopathologic and ancillary features of early mycosis fungoides were critically examined. Based on this analysis, an algorithm was developed for the diagnosis of early mycosis fungoides involving a holistic integration of clinical, histopathologic, immunopathologic, and molecular biological characteristics. A novel aspect of this algorithm is that it relies on multiple types of criteria rather than just one, for example, histopathology. Before its finalization, the proposed diagnostic algorithm will require validation and possibly further refinement at multiple centers during the next several years. It is anticipated that a more standardized approach to the diagnosis of early mycosis fungoides will have a beneficial impact on the epidemiology, prognostication, treatment, and analysis of clinical trials pertaining to this most common type of cutaneous lymphoma.
Pimpinelli
Nicola
N
Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Olsen
Elise A
EA
Santucci
Marco
M
Vonderheid
Eric
E
Haeffner
Andreas C
AC
Stevens
Seth
S
Burg
Guenter
G
Cerroni
Lorenzo
L
Dreno
Brigitte
B
Glusac
Earl
E
Guitart
Joan
J
Heald
Peter W
PW
Kempf
Werner
W
Knobler
Robert
R
Lessin
Stuart
S
Sander
Christian
C
Smoller
Bruce S
BS
Telang
Gladys
G
Whittaker
Sean
S
Iwatsuki
Keiji
K
Obitz
Erik
E
Takigawa
Masahiro
M
Turner
Maria L
ML
Wood
Gary S
GS
D000465:Algorithms; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*