title: Racial differences in mycosis fungoides: a retrospective study with a focus on eosinophilia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is often associated with eosinophilia and portends a poorer prognosis. MF is more common in blacks and follows a more aggressive course compared with whites.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We further elucidate racial differences between blacks and whites with MF, focusing on blood eosinophilia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 345 patients with MF were reviewed for demographic, clinical, and pathologic data and evaluated by analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age at diagnosis for blacks was 45 years and was 55 years for white patients (P < .001). In the cohorts of patients with and without blood eosinophilia, the average maximum blood eosinophil count had a greater range in blacks. Independent of race, blood eosinophilia was predictive of more advanced disease (P < .0001), increased number of treatment types (P < .002), and less responsiveness to treatment (P < .0006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a retrospective study at a single institution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These differences observed in eosinophil values may highlight disparities in MF diagnosis or a difference in pathophysiology between races.
authors: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: John G
authors: JG
authors: Zampella
authors: Ginette A
authors: GA
authors: Hinds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000208:ethnology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000208:ethnology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People