Pathology Grand Rounds - Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma | Dr. Michi Shinohara

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08/09/23

Michi Shinohara, MD

Associate Professor; Division of Dermatopathology
Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology; University of Washington

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are non-Hodgkin lymphomas with protean clinical manifestations the primarily occur in the skin. Mycosis fungoides (MF), primary cutaneous CD30 positive lymphoproliferative disorders, and Sézary syndrome (SS) are the most common subtypes of CTCL, with MF comprising the majority (less than 60%) of cases. MF is a neoplasm of mature, skin-homing effector memory T-helper (TH) cells. Diagnosis of early MF is notoriously challenging because of significant clinical and histologic overlap with benign skin conditions. We will discuss some of the reasons for this difficulty in diagnosing MF, the role of molecular studies in diagnosis and risk stratifying MF, and some newer data on the genetic landscape of MF with a glimpse of the potential for precision medicine in the treatment of MF.