title: Defining early mycosis fungoides.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pimpinelli
authors.forename: Elise A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vonderheid
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Haeffner
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Guenter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dreno
authors.forename: Earl
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glusac
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitart
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Heald
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knobler
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lessin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Bruce S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Smoller
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Telang
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwatsuki
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Obitz
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*