MYCOSIS-FUNGOIDES AND OTHER CUTANEOUS RETICULOSES

MF [mycosis fungoides] as described here is associated with abnormal T [thymus-derived] cells predominating in the infiltrate and includes also, the rarer condition known as the Sezary syndrome. The other cases mentioned are due to abnormalities of B [bone marrow-derived] cells and are clinically and histologically different from MF. The cell types can be identified in fresh tissue by their surface markings. A register of reticuloses and possible reticuloses was started at St. John''s Hospital for Disease of the Skin in 1959 and information on more than 600 patients is now available. Leukemias and Hodgkin''s disease form a small proportion of the whole. Only 8 leukemias and 12 cases of Hodgkin''s disease were seen. Most of the latter were seen because of itching. Neither of these groups will be discussed further. The great majority of cases are listed under the headings of parapsoriasis and MF. Lymphomatoid papulosis was not specifically included but will be briefly mentioned later. Most cases of MF begin as the lichenoid form or the classical or Alibert form with ill-defined eczematous patches. A few are erythrodermic from the outset and of these some progressed to the Sezary syndrome. There are other modes of onset which may only be recognized after biopsy of a lesion is made. They are very uncommon.