A 30-year history of CD4+ vesiculo-bullous mycosis fungoides and multiple visceral malignancies

Australas J Dermatol. 2007 Feb;48(1):46-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2007.00333.x.

Abstract

An 83-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a 25-year history of an itchy, eczematous blistering eruption affecting her trunk and acral sites. She had a past history of adenocarcinoma of the lung, colorectal carcinoma and bladder carcinoma. Several skin biopsies consistently showed features of a spongiotic process. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies were repeatedly negative, excluding the possibility of an autoimmune blistering disorder. A skin biopsy several years later, however, showed histological and immunophenotypic features of mycosis fungoides. The literature on this rare phenotype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma generally portrays a negative prognosis. Our case illustrates an excellent prognosis with stable disease 30 years after onset.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / complications
  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betamethasone / analogs & derivatives
  • Betamethasone / therapeutic use
  • CD4 Antigens*
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / complications
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / complications
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Mycosis Fungoides / complications
  • Mycosis Fungoides / diagnosis*
  • Mycosis Fungoides / drug therapy
  • Mycosis Fungoides / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / complications

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate
  • Betamethasone