Therapeutic alternatives in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome, collectively referred to as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, are non-Hodgkin's lymphomas that initially appear in the skin. Early-stage disease, limited to the skin, is best treated with sequential topical therapies such as topical nitrogen mustard, psoralen phototherapy (PUVA), or total-skin electron beam therapy. Photopheresis is the first line of therapy for the patient with erythroderma. Systemic therapy is generally reserved for patients with refractory disease and patients who initially present with extracutaneous involvement. Although there are several treatment options for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, there have been few randomized comparative trials.