Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome - Simplifying the approach for dermatologists. Part 2: Evaluation, staging, prognosis and treatment.

Abstract

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of T-cell neoplasms, of which mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome are the most common. The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease. The early stage follows a protracted course with a five-year disease-specific survival of greater than 95% and is treated with skin-directed topical therapies, phototherapy, and oral drugs like methotrexate. Advanced disease has a five-year overall survival of less than 25% and requires management by systemic chemotherapeutic agents. This review article is the second part out of the two covering the staging, prognosis, and treatment from a dermatologist's perspective.