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Cutaneous Lymphoma

Definition

Cutaneous Lymphoma sometimes referred to as Mycosis fungoides and/or the Sézary syndrome are diseases in which lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) become cancerous and affect the skin.

Getting Diagnosed / Treatment

Cutaneous Lymphoma is treated at the U-M Cancer Center in the Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic.

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How does Cutaneous Lymphoma Occur?

As noted, Mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome are diseases in which lymphocytes become cancerous and affect the skin.

Lymphocytes are made in the bone marrow and fight infection and disease. There are three types of lymphocytes:

In mycosis fungoides, T-cell lymphocytes become cancerous and affect the skin. In the Sézary syndrome, cancerous T-cell lymphocytes affect the skin and the peripheral blood.

Mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome are types of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. A possible sign of mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome is a red rash on the skin.

Mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome may move through the following phases:

Additional Resource from the National Cancer Institute Get more information about this form of lymphoma on the Nactional Cancer Institute's General Information About Mycosis Fungoides and the Sézary Syndrome webpage.

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