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.

Usefulness (or lack thereof) of immunophenotyping in atypical cutaneous T-cell infiltrates.

Florell SR, Cessna M, Lundell RB, Boucher KM, Bowen GM, Harris RM, Petersen MJ, Zone JJ, Tripp S, Perkins SL

Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

Our purpose was to evaluate the interobserver concordance for the diagnoses of mycosis fungoides (MF), atypical dermatoses (AD), and benign dermatoses (BD) and the impact of T-cell immunophenotyping on the diagnoses MF, AD, and BD. Specimens of MF (n = 57), AD (n = 27), BD and normal skin (n = 54) were reviewed by 2 hematopathologists and 1 dermatopathologist to establish diagnostic interobserver concordance by routine morphologic examination. Immunophenotyping was performed to evaluate expression of CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD20, CD30, and MIB-1. The interobserver concordance was fair to moderate compared with the original diagnosis. Partial deletion of CD2 alone was associated significantly with MF. Epidermal deletions of 2 or 3 T-cell antigens or 2 T-cell antigens not including CD7 were associated significantly with MF. An elevated CD4/CD8 ratio correlated with MF. Morphologic features were most diagnostic of MF. Immunophenotyping generally resulted in downgrading of the reaction pattern but was helpful in distinguishing MF from benign dermatoses.

Published 18 May 2006 in Am J Clin Pathol, 125(5): 727-36.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

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