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Mycosis Fungoides |
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Mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome are diseases in which lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) become malignant (cancerous) and affect the skin. Lymphocytes are made in the bone marrow and fight infection and disease. There are three types of lymphocytes: B-cell lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection. T-cell lymphocytes that help B-lymphocytes make the antibodies that help fight infection. Natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses. In mycosis fungoides, T-cell lymphocytes become cancerous and affect the skin. In the Sézary syndrome, cancerous T-cell lymphocytes affect the skin and the peripheral blood. Mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome are types of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This summary describes the two most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome. A possible sign of mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome is a red rash on the skin. Mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome may move through the following phases: Premycotic phase: A scaly, red rash in areas of the body that usually are not exposed to the sun. This rash does not cause symptoms and may last for months or years. It is hard to diagnose the rash as mycosis fungoides during this phase. Patch phase: Thin, reddened, eczema-like rash. Plaque phase: Thickened, red patches or reddened skin. Tumor phase: Tumors form on the skin. These tumors may develop ulcers and the skin may get infected. Sézary syndrome is an advanced form of mycosis fungoides. In the Sézary syndrome, skin all over the body is reddened, itchy, peeling, and painful. There may also be patches, plaques, or tumors on the skin. Cancerous T-cells are found in the blood. Mycosis fungoides does not always progress to the Sézary syndrome.
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