Fast Facts: Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma

Book excerpt: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) has been described as a 'great mimicker'. The correct diagnosis hinges on effective collaboration between clinicians and pathologists to correlate pathological and clinical findings. The patient's history, lesion description and diagnostic work-up will help the pathologist interpret the histopathology, whilst the clinician’s diagnosis is aided by a clear understanding the terminology used in the pathology report. The treatment of early and advanced mycosis fungoides and its variants is potentially lifelong, with patients typically cycling among treatments, interspersed with periods of expectant therapy providing palliation and symptomatic relief. Effective management requires knowledge of the wide range of options, how they are used, and their side-effect profile, in order to tailor treatment to the individual patient.