Mycosis fungoides d'emblée: A rare presentation of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma

Abstract

A case of the d'emblée variant of mycosis fungoides is presented to confirm the validity of this rare variant of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma. The patient had rapidly progressing cutaneous tumors of mycosis fungoides with no internal organ or nodal involvement at the onset of the disease. This was confirmed at a laparotomy, which was done to remove a uterine leiomyoma. The classic light microscopy was confirmed by electron microscopy. Postmortem findings showed a remarkable degree of “epitheliotropism.” The d'emblée form of mycosis fungoides has been disputed by some who argue that these cases represent a lymphoma that begins elsewhere and has secondary skin involvement. In this patient there was an opportunity, within a few weeks of the onset of the problem, to do an extensive staging work‐up, including laparotomy. No evidence of internal lymphoma was found. Copyright © 1982 American Cancer Society