
What happens after mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome is diagnosed?
After mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome have been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread from the skin to other parts of the body. There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body. Cancer may spread from where it began to other parts of the body.
What are the immunophenotypes of Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides cells?
The following key points are raised: (a) Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides cells most often have a characteristic CD3+ CD4+ CD7- and/or CD26- immunophenotype. (b) This immunophenotype is not specific, but can assist in the distinction from non-neoplastic T cells and other subtypes of mature T-cell neoplasm.
What are the differences between mycosis fungoides and eczema?
While white patients with mycosis fungoides tend to experience red, eczema-like patches, Black patients and dark-skinned Latinos often have scaly, ring-shaped white spots that are thin and depressed in the center, notes Maritza Perez, MD, professor of dermatology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington. Because of this ...
What is mycosis fungoides?
Mycosis fungoides is a type of skin lymphoma (cancer). It occurs when white blood cells become cancerous. Often, a skin rash is the first sign of mycosis fungoides.

Can mycosis fungoides turn into Sézary syndrome?
It is hypothesized that Sezary syndrome can evolve gradually from mycosis fungoides or occur spontaneously. Patients with this condition have skin involvement characterized by erythematous plaques or flat patches which may be single or multiple.
What does Sézary syndrome look like?
Most patients with Sézary syndrome have extensive red, itchy rash covering at least 80 percent of the body. In some cases, thicker, red patches (or plaques) and tumors may also appear. In addition, these symptoms may be accompanied by changes in the nails, hair, eyelids, and the presence of enlarged lymph nodes.
How do you differentiate mycosis fungoides?
Mycosis fangoides must be differentiated from any diseases with cutaneous patch or plaque that not respond to first- and second-line treatment ssuch as:Sezaruy syndrome. ... Eczema.Adult T cell leukemia/lymphma.Psoriasis.Pityriasis rubra pilaris.dermatitis.Hypereosinophilic syndrome.Adult T-cell leukemia.More items...•
What is so specific about Sézary syndrome?
Description. Sézary syndrome is an aggressive form of a type of blood cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas occur when certain white blood cells, called T cells, become cancerous; these cancers characteristically affect the skin, causing different types of skin lesions.
How do you test for Sézary syndrome?
Blood tests allow doctors to measure the level of white blood cells in the body, which can determine whether you have Sézary syndrome. People with mycosis fungoides usually do not have cancerous T-cell lymphocytes circulating in the blood. When they do, it is a sign that the condition may be more advanced.
How long can you live with Sézary syndrome?
Median survival for patients with Sézary syndrome has been reported to be 2-4 years, although the median survival was 2.9 years among patients defined by 2011 criteria for the disease. The disease-specific 5-year survival rate has been reported to be 24%.
What can be mistaken for mycosis fungoides?
Mycosis fungoides is often mistaken for other skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis. To confirm or rule out mycosis fungoides, your healthcare provider will likely use additional tests such as: Skin biopsy or lymph node biopsy. Blood tests.
What are Sézary cells?
(sey-zah-REE sel) A cancerous T cell (a type of white blood cell) found in the blood, skin, and lymph nodes of patients who have a fast-growing type of skin lymphoma called Sézary syndrome. Under a microscope, Sézary cells have an abnormally shaped nucleus and look larger than normal T cells.
What mimics mycosis fungoides?
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), also known as mycosis fungoides, is a malignancy of the T-helper (CD4+) cells. It may mimic many benign processes, such as eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis. Early in the course of the disease, the clinical and histologic diagnosis of CTCL is difficult.
What triggers mycosis fungoides?
The exact cause of mycosis fungoides is not known. Current theories include antigen persistence, retroviruses (e.g., HTLV-1, etc.), and exposure to cancer-causing (carcinogenic) substances.