Mycosis fungoides or chronic T-cell lymphoma is a type of cancer characterized by the presence of skin lesions that, if left untreated, develop into the internal organs. Mycosis fungoides is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is a type of lymphoma characterized by enlarged lymph nodes. Learn more about non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Despite the name, mycosis fungoides has nothing to do with fungi, so it is not contagious and is not treated with antifungals, but with radiotherapy or topical corticosteroids according to the stage of the disease.
The first symptoms of mycosis fungoides are skin lesions that can spread throughout the body but are difficult to diagnose.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How is the treatment done?
The treatment for mycosis fungoides is done according to the orientation of the oncologist or hematologist and depends on the stage of the disease, which can be done with chemo or radiotherapy and the use of topical corticosteroids.
Treatment for this type of lymphoma should be started as quickly as possible as it progresses rapidly and treatment in the later stages is more difficult.
Diagnosis of mycosis fungoides
The diagnosis of mycosis fungoides can be made by a dermatologist through skin exams such as biopsy. However, in the initial phase of the disease, it is difficult to evaluate the results concretely, and the doctor should follow the patient to see if there are any changes in the lesions and the appearance of other symptoms. Understand how the dermatological examination is done.
The diagnosis can also be made by a hematologist through blood tests, which indicate an increase in the number of leukocytes and anemia, and biopsy of the tissue must also be performed. See what the biopsy is for and what the biopsy is for.
To monitor the development of the disease and response to treatment, the doctor may also request skin biopsy, as well as chest, abdomen and pelvis tomography.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of mycosis fungoides are:
- Spots on the skin;
- Itching;
- Desquamation of the skin;
- Development of nodes under the skin;
- Dry skin;
- Increased lymphocytes on blood test.
These symptoms mostly appear in people over 50 years of age and males. Symptoms of mycosis fungoides begin as an inflammatory process but soon thereafter become a neoplastic process.
