Mycosis Fungoides - Symptoms and Treatment

Mycosis Fungoides , also known as Alibert-Bazin syndrome or granuloma fungoides, is a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma . It is also known as cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTLC), which affects the skin. Lymphomas are blood tumors. In mycosis fungoides the blood lymphoma stays mostly in the skin. This results in a rash. It first appears on the skin and can spread to the lymph nodes or other organs such as the spleen, liver, or lungs. The disease is typically slowly progressive and chronic. In individuals with mycosis fungoides, the skin becomes infiltrated with plaques and nodules that are composed of lymphocytes. In advanced cases, ulcerated tumors and infiltration of lymph nodes by diseased cells may occur. The disorder may spread to other parts of the body including the gastrointestinal system, liver, spleen, or brain. Mycosis Fungoides is a type of Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph cells) that involves the skin. In most cases, Mycosis Fungoides is very slow growing (over many years). In individuals with Mycosis Fungoides, the skin becomes infiltrated with plaques and nodules that are composed of lymphocytes.

Mycosis Fungoides is a form of lymph cancer characterized by scaly skin patches. Mycosis fungoides can begin at any age, but the most common age is 50 years old. Mycosis Fungoides is a rare and distinct form of cutaneous T cell lymphomas form but a common form of skin lymphoma, the disease is typically slowly progressive and chronic. In the United states, approximately 1000 new cases of mycosis fungoides occur per year. It affects men twice as often as women, and is more common in black people than in whites.-- In a number of cases where people develop mycosis fungoides, the rashes remain over a period time. It is very difficult to determine whether one is suffering from mycosis fungoides and usually a number of biopsies are required over a period of time before the diagnosis can be made. This infection is confined to the skin and it rarely affects other parts of the body. These changes develop slowly over the years. At the start they are irregularly shaped and variably itchy dry patches of the skin. At this stage it becomes difficult to make the diagnosis as early mycosis fungoides look like common skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema. Later on the patches thicken up to become plaques. Sometimes the skin becomes red all over. In a number of cases the mycosis fungoides never gets beyond the stage of patches and plaques. Very rarely the skin patches gets thicken, enlarged and ulcerate. The affected area might be painful and discharge fluid. It is an unusual expression of T-cells which is a part of the immune system.

Causes of Mycosis Fungoides

Common Causes of Mycosis Fungoides :

• The cause of mycosis fungoides is unknown.
• Lymphoma .

Symptoms of Mycosis Fungoides

Some common Symptoms of Mycosis Fungoides :

• Itchy rash.
• Red scaly skin rash.
• Lumpy skin.
• Back skin rash.
• Shoulder skin rash.
• Skin ulcers.
• Buttock skin rash.

Treatment of Mycosis Fungoides

• Oral or injected chemotherapy are also beneficial.
• Ultraviolet light (PUVA) will often help control the condition.
• Mild mycosis fungoides can be treated effectively with cortisone ointments.
• This method is used to treat individual areas, in contrast to the approach with PUVA - which treats the whole skin surface.
• Nitrogen mustard, a chemotherapy drug, is sometimes applied to the skin to control mycosis fungoides.
• Photo chemotherapy or photopheresis is a technique used at major medical centers for the treatment of mycosis fungoides.
• Retinoids are drugs related to vitamin A that can slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells.

Home | Drugs | Contact Us | Skin Disorders | Home Remedies | Diabetes | Health Blog
Copyright © HealthAtoZ.info All Rights Reserved.