The pathogenesis of mycosis fungoides.

The article focuses on the pathogenesis of mycosis fungoides (MF). MF is a cutaneous lymphoma characterized by an initially polymorphous infiltrate composed largely of T-lymphocytes. The dermal infiltrate invades the epidermis, forming small accumulations of T-lymphocytes termed Pautrier's microabscesses. Atypical lymphocytes with hyperconvoluted nuclei, termed as Lutzner or mycosis cells, are found in the cutaneous infiltrates, lymph nodes, or peripheral blood of MF patients. A leukaemic variant of MF, the Sézary syndrome, is characterized by erythroderma and a large percentage of a typical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and tissue infiltrates.