Narrow-band ultraviolet therapy in early-stage mycosis fungoides: study on 20 patients.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB, 311-313 nm) has been found to be beneficial for early-stages mycosis fungoides (MF). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of NB-UVB in 20 patients with early-stage MF.


METHODS
Twenty patients (10 women and 10 men, mean age 54 +/- 22 years) with clinically and histologically confirmed MF were enrolled in the study. All of the patients had clinical stage I disease (T1 or T2, N0, M0) with cutaneous involvement, consisting of patch-stage disease of limited extent, in 50% of the cases (stage IA), and more widespread in the other 50% (stage IB). All the patients were treated with NB-UVB therapy until more than 95% clearance of the patient's skin lesions had occurred.


RESULTS
A complete response was achieved in 90% of the cases after a mean of 29 +/- 14 treatments within a mean period of 4 months (range 1-8 months), with an average cumulative dose of 25 +/- 16.77 J/cm(2). In the follow-up period, relapse occurred after a mean period of 8 months (range 3-17 months), and then therapy was restarted.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that NB-UVB might be an efficient option for stage IA and IB MF patients.
Brazzelli
V
V
Department of Human and Hereditary Pathology, Institute of Dermatology, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy. vbrazzelli@libero.it
Antoninetti
M
M
Palazzini
S
S
Prestinari
F
F
Borroni
G
G
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*