Dynamics of dermoscopic signs in patients with T-cell lymphoma treated with total skin electron beam therapy

Kozlova D.V., Vinogradova Yu.N., Zaslavsky D.V., Taganov A.V., Ilyin N.V.

Russian Research Center for Radiology and Surgical Technologies named after Academician A.M. Granov, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow, Russia

Mycosis fungoides is a primary epidermotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, clinically manifesting as a slowly progressive skin lesion, ranging from patches to plaques and tumor nodules. Histologically, the disease is characterized by the formation of a lymphoid infiltrate of atypical T cells in the dermis, which loses specific markers in the late stages. Dermatoscopy, as a non-invasive diagnostic method, reduces the number of biopsies required to diagnose certain skin lesions and is useful for evaluating treatment effectiveness.

Objective: to determine the dynamics of dermatoscopic findings in patients with mycosis fungoides during treatment with total skin electron beam. Dermatoscopy was performed on patches, plaques, nodules, and total-body skin lesions in 36 patients with histologically and immunohistochemically confirmed mycosis fungoides who received radiation therapy before, immediately after, and one month after completion of radiation therapy. Improved skin progression in patients with mycosis fungoides following radiation therapy is dermatologically characterized by a reduction in detectable vascular structures within the irradiated lesions. These results suggest the use of dermatoscopy to evaluate the effectiveness and improve treatment in patients with mycosis fungoides.