Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma - Refinement in the application of controversialhistologic criteria

The term cutaneous T-cell lymphoma was originally coined to encompass the s pectrum of mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. It has become increasingl y evident that the histopathologic diagnosis of CTCL can be exceedingly cha llenging. A series of recent studies, however, have helped clarify the natu re of the histologic findings in CTCL. Recently reported histologic data on mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome, and their variants is emphasized in th is article, with special focus given to the findings in early lesions. A br ief summary of lymphocyte immunophenotyping and the role of T-cell receptio n gene rearrangements in CTCL is included.