title: Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: a review.
abstract: Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) represent a number of extranodal lymphomas arising from a malignant population of lymphocytes in the skin, with the most common type being mycosis fungoides (MF) representing half of all primary CTCLs. Despite advances in immunohistochemistry and molecular methodology, significant diagnostic challenges remain due to phenotypic overlap of primary CTCLs with several inflammatory dermatoses, secondary lymphomas, among other conditions. Clinical features such as presentation and morphology, staging, histology, immunophenotype and molecular features must be considered in detail before a diagnosis is made in order to minimise false-positive, false-negative and indeterminate diagnoses. Herein, we review primary CTCLs, including epidemiological data, a brief summary of clinical presentations, immunophenotype, molecular signatures and differential diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Konstantinos G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Sidiropoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: M Estela
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Martinez-Escala
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yelamos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitart
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Department of Pathology, Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidiropoulos
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: LYMPHOMA; NEOPLASMS; SKIN; SKIN TUMOURS