title: Occupational mycosis fungoides - a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most frequent type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. MF has long been considered to develop as the result of a combination of genetic defects and exogenous triggers. Although no specific MF-associated environmental trigger has been established to date, some studies have suggested that occupational exposures may occasionally trigger the onset of MF.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this observational study, we aimed at underscoring the potential association between occupational exposure and MF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We ascertained a cohort of 150 MF patients for possible occupational exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five MF patients with occupational exposure were identified in our cohort. Three patients had intensive contact with aromatic hydrocarbons; two of them were working in the same plant and in the same unit for more than 30 years. The third patient had been in contact with aromatic hydrocarbons for a total of 8 years. Patient 4 had additional contact for 12 years with hydrazine, and patient 5 had been exposed for 3 years to formaldehyde.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clustering of two cases of MF, an exceptionally rare disease, in the same plant unit, as well as the long-term, intense occupational exposure in other cases, substantiates the notion that occupational exposures may contribute to the pathogenesis of MF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel-Aviv Souraski Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slodownik
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moshe
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel-Aviv Souraski Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Department of Human Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel-Aviv Souraski Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D006834:Hydrazines; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D005557:Formaldehyde; C029424:hydrazine