A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool

The prognosis/mortality rate in mycosis fungoides (MF)/cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is alarming in resource-poor countries due to delayed diagnosis in meeting recognised criteria. We highlight the diagnostic accuracy of examining peripheral blood films (PBFs). We reviewed clinically diagnosed M...

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Main Authors: Erere Otrofanowei, Ayesha Omolara Akinkugbe, Yusuf Adetomiwa Adelabu, Olusola Olabisi Ayanlowo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/npmj.npmj_48_24
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author Erere Otrofanowei
Ayesha Omolara Akinkugbe
Yusuf Adetomiwa Adelabu
Olusola Olabisi Ayanlowo
author_facet Erere Otrofanowei
Ayesha Omolara Akinkugbe
Yusuf Adetomiwa Adelabu
Olusola Olabisi Ayanlowo
author_sort Erere Otrofanowei
collection DOAJ
description The prognosis/mortality rate in mycosis fungoides (MF)/cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is alarming in resource-poor countries due to delayed diagnosis in meeting recognised criteria. We highlight the diagnostic accuracy of examining peripheral blood films (PBFs). We reviewed clinically diagnosed MF/CTCL cases in the Dermatology Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital between January and October 2022 and analysed clinical, haematological and histology findings. Eight patients (male:female = 5:3) between 35 and 68 years had blood films with characteristic Sezary cells of <5%. Flow cytometry (FC) in 1 (12.5%) was inconclusive, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on skin/lymph nodes in 5 (62.5%) was highly suggestive or confirmatory. Three patients had no biopsy. Patients had methotrexate, phototherapy (±psoralen) and systemic steroids with varying improvements. Since immunophenotyping (FC or IHC) is lacking in resource-poor countries or low- and middle-income countries, Sezary cells in PBF of clinically diagnosed patients with MF/CTCL should prompt treatment.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1117-1936
2468-6875
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-249762cefe624685b701e468fb0718722025-01-07T09:47:56ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsNigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal1117-19362468-68752024-12-0131433734010.4103/npmj.npmj_48_24A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful ToolErere OtrofanoweiAyesha Omolara AkinkugbeYusuf Adetomiwa AdelabuOlusola Olabisi AyanlowoThe prognosis/mortality rate in mycosis fungoides (MF)/cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is alarming in resource-poor countries due to delayed diagnosis in meeting recognised criteria. We highlight the diagnostic accuracy of examining peripheral blood films (PBFs). We reviewed clinically diagnosed MF/CTCL cases in the Dermatology Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital between January and October 2022 and analysed clinical, haematological and histology findings. Eight patients (male:female = 5:3) between 35 and 68 years had blood films with characteristic Sezary cells of <5%. Flow cytometry (FC) in 1 (12.5%) was inconclusive, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on skin/lymph nodes in 5 (62.5%) was highly suggestive or confirmatory. Three patients had no biopsy. Patients had methotrexate, phototherapy (±psoralen) and systemic steroids with varying improvements. Since immunophenotyping (FC or IHC) is lacking in resource-poor countries or low- and middle-income countries, Sezary cells in PBF of clinically diagnosed patients with MF/CTCL should prompt treatment.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/npmj.npmj_48_24blood filmcutaneous t-cell lymphomamycosis fungoidesresource-poor countriessezary cells
spellingShingle Erere Otrofanowei
Ayesha Omolara Akinkugbe
Yusuf Adetomiwa Adelabu
Olusola Olabisi Ayanlowo
A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool
Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
blood film
cutaneous t-cell lymphoma
mycosis fungoides
resource-poor countries
sezary cells
title A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool
title_full A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool
title_fullStr A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool
title_full_unstemmed A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool
title_short A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination – A Useful Tool
title_sort case series of diagnostic challenges in mycosis fungoides in resource poor settings blood film examination a useful tool
topic blood film
cutaneous t-cell lymphoma
mycosis fungoides
resource-poor countries
sezary cells
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/npmj.npmj_48_24
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