Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Insights: Distinguishing MF and SS, and Recognizing Early-Stage Clues

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EP: 1.Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Insights: Distinguishing MF and SS, and Recognizing Early-Stage Clues

EP: 2.Understanding CTCL Staging: From Limited Mycosis Fungoides to Advanced Disease

EP: 3.Managing Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides: Treatment Goals and Topical Therapy Selection

EP: 4.Collaborating With Dermatologists: Coordinating Skin-Directed Therapy and Follow-Up in CTCL

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This comprehensive panel discussion features leading CTCL experts from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, University of California Irvine, Columbia University, and Johns Hopkins University, exploring cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treatment strategies. The experts discuss the epidemiology of CTCL, with approximately 1,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States, though this number likely represents an underestimation of true disease prevalence.

The panel emphasizes the critical distinctions between mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome, the two primary forms of CTCL. Mycosis fungoides typically presents with localized skin patches, plaques, or tumors with areas of normal intervening skin, while Sézary syndrome manifests as generalized erythroderma with characteristic red, inflamed skin covering large body surface areas. These clinical presentation differences are crucial for accurate diagnosis and staging.

Laboratory findings further differentiate these CTCL subtypes, with Sézary syndrome patients exhibiting significantly more extensive peripheral blood involvement compared to mycosis fungoides cases. This blood involvement directly impacts treatment selection, as the therapeutic approaches for these two conditions vary substantially. Understanding these fundamental differences enables clinicians to develop appropriate treatment strategies and provides the foundation for patient-centered care approaches in CTCL management.