Histopathologic Findings in the Clinically Uninvolved Skin of Patients with Mycosis Fungoides

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis‐like lesions in patients with mycosis fungoides: a new adverse effect of phototherapy

“…This may also be true in patients with MF, as suggested by reports of the appearance of vitiligo, leucoderma‐like vitiligo, and confetti‐like hypopigmentation at sites of resolving lesions of MF/Sezary syndrome following phototherapy 5–7,10,14 . Although the IGH‐like lesions were not confined to skin clinically involved by the underlying disease, it is well recognized that in patients with MF, even normal‐looking skin is microscopically involved 18,19 …”

“…[5][6][7]10,14 Although the IGH-like lesions were not confined to skin clinically involved by the underlying disease, it is well recognized that in patients with MF, even normal-looking skin is microscopically involved. 18,19 In this context, it should be mentioned that loss of lesional basal melanocytes unrelated to any therapy has been reported in the hypopigmented variant of MF. This unusual manifestation is characterized clinically by hypopigmented patches and ⁄ or plaques, and histopathologically, by a decrease or absence of melanocytes within the MF lesions.…”

Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome: clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical review and update

“…In general, these patients show classic or suggestive lesions of MF that are referred to as "invisible" MF lesions due to their normal appearance on clinical examination, and sometimes as "invisible" MF for corresponding to the hypochromiant MF present in patients with very fair skin and, therefore, "identical" to normal skin. 54,55 …”

Microscopic study of normal skin in cases of mycosis fungoides

“…The histological appearance of clinically uninvolved skin in patients with MF with plaque‐stage disease has already been evaluated. Bergman and colleagues 7 found epidermotropic mononuclear cells in 50% of their biopsies of near (1 cm) normal‐looking skin adjacent to MF plaques, and in most of these cases (except one) the epidermotropic foci were accompanied by mononuclear cell infiltrates in the papillary dermis, which were mostly superficial perivascular. In distant (≥ 10 cm) clinically uninvolved skin, 22% of the biopsies showed some epidermotropism of mononuclear cells accompanied by an underlying superficial perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate 7 .…”

“…Bergman and colleagues 7 found epidermotropic mononuclear cells in 50% of their biopsies of near (1 cm) normal‐looking skin adjacent to MF plaques, and in most of these cases (except one) the epidermotropic foci were accompanied by mononuclear cell infiltrates in the papillary dermis, which were mostly superficial perivascular. In distant (≥ 10 cm) clinically uninvolved skin, 22% of the biopsies showed some epidermotropism of mononuclear cells accompanied by an underlying superficial perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate 7 . In contrast, only 4% of the biopsies of their normal control showed an epidermotropic infiltrate, and an additional 17% showed superficial perivascular infiltrates only 7 …”