Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Minimal residual disease in hypopigmented mycosis fungoides.

Hsiao PF, Hsiao CH, Tsai TF, Jee SH

Department of Dermatology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

We describe the case of a 13-year-old boy with stage I hypopigmented mycosis fungoides in whom minimal residual disease was detected with T-cell receptor gamma-polymerase chain reaction after the disease was in complete clinical remission. We further cloned and sequenced the T-cell receptor gamma-polymerase chain reaction product of the lesion in remission and found that the original T-cell clone still existed in decreased amounts. The patient was followed up for 3 1/2 years without any new lesions developing. The clinical significance of this residual malignant T-cell clone in mycosis fungoides remains to be elucidated.

Published 24 April 2006 in J Am Acad Dermatol, 54(5): S198-201.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Skin Cancer Research Today. All Rights Reserved.