Diagnose MF-CTCL as early as possible1,2


MF-CTCL is a serious disease that can be a significant challenge for patients1,2
- Even in early stage disease, MF-CTCL is associated with a significant reduction in health-related quality of life3
- The course of early stage MF-CTCL can be variable and unpredictable, particularly if plaques are present1
MF-CTCL can cause severe physical suffering3
- Pruritus is an early and most frequent symptom of MF-CTCL4
- Pruritus may not be relieved by emollients or other treatments5
- In advanced stages of the disease, patients commonly report severe, diffuse pruritus that they describe as “burning pain”6
- Patients also tend to suffer hair loss at lesion sites7
MF-CTCL can have an emotional and psychosocial impact on patients3
- In earlier stages, patients endure the appearance of patches or plaques on their skin, which may be difficult to explain to family and friends3
- More than 50% of patients reported that CTCL interfered with their daily activities3*
*Results of a 2005 national Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation survey, in which 89% of respondents had MF-CTCL.3
An earlier diagnosis can reduce the psychological and social impact of MF-CTCL on patients3,8
References:
- Agar NS, Wedgeworth E, Crichton S, et al. Survival outcomes and prognostic factors in mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome: validation of the revised International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas/European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer staging proposal. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28:4730-4739.
- Song SX, Willemze R, Swerdlow SH, Kinney MC, Said JW. Mycosis fungoides: report of the 2011 Society for Haematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology workshop. Am J Clin Pathol. 2013;139(4):466-490.
- Demierre MF, Gan S, Jones J, Miller DR. Significant impact of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma on patients’ quality of life: results of a 2005 National Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation Survey. Cancer. 2006;107(10):2504-2511.
- Pujol RM, Gallardo F, Llistosella E, et al. Invisible mycosis fungoides: a diagnostic challenge. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47(2 Suppl):S168-S171.
- Meyer N, Paul C, Misery L. Pruritus in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: frequent, often severe and difficult to treat. Acta Derm Venereol. 2010;90:12-17.
- Misery L. Chapter 8: Pruritus in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. In: Carstens E, Akiyama T, eds. Itch: Mechanisms and Treatment. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2014.
- Hoppe RT, Kim YH. Clinical manifestations, pathologic features, and diagnosis of mycosis fungoides. UpToDate website. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-pathologic-features-and-diagnosis-of-mycosis-fungoides. Accessed February 19, 2019.
- Mishra A, Porcu P. Early CTCL diagnosis, a (miR)age no more? Blood. 2011;118(22):5717-5718.