A rare case of Mycosis Fungoides with a debut in adolescence (clinical report)

   Background. Mycosis fungoides is a primary epidermotropic T-cell lymphoma of the skin, characterized by the proliferation of small and medium-sized T-lymphocytes with cerebriform nuclei. According to the US National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), the development of mycosis fungoides occurs predominantly over the age of 50 years, which makes it difficult to diagnose mycosis fungoides in young people.

   Objective. The authors present a case of mycosis fungoides verified in a 26-year-old patient who consulted a dermatovenerologist at the State budgetary institution of the Sverdlovsk region "Ural Research Institute of Dermatovenereology and Immunopathology" with complaints of rashes on the skin of the back, accompanied by tingling and periodic itching, as well as hair loss and a burning sensation on the scalp.

   Materials and methods. From the anamnesis it was revealed that the patient considered herself sick for about 10 years, when at the age of 16 she began to experience short-term (up to 2-3 weeks) episodes of itching and redness of the skin of the back. Over the previous 2 years, he has noted a significant progression of the disease: the appearance of a focus of hair loss on the scalp, an increase in the intensity of skin itching and an increase in the size of existing spots on the skin of the back. Based on the medical history, clinical data, results of pathomorphological and immunohistochemical studies of skin biopsies, the patient was diagnosed with primary skin lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, stage IB-IIA (T2NxMxBx). The patient was referred to an oncologist at her place of residence for additional examination and specialized therapy.

   Сonclusion. Despite the well-known clinical and pathomorphological criteria of mycosis fungoides in adult patients, doctors have difficulties in diagnosing this disease in children's practice, since dermatovenerologists are less alert to mycosis fungoides and therefore the manifestations of the disease are mistaken for atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pityriasis and other dermatoses that are often registered in children. The presented clinical case confirm the possibility of the development of mycosis fungoides in young people, shows the importance of oncological alertness dermatovenerologists and pediatricians.

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