Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

A comparison of the detailed features and natural history of 12 patients with "Sézary Syndrome" with those in patients with classical "mycosis fungoides" has demonstrated that, with the exception of a leukemic phase in the former, the two syndromes are indistinguishable. Both disorders result from the proliferation of malignant thymus-derived lymphocytes with progressive involvement of skin, lymph nodes, and visceral organs; actual transition between these two syndromes have been documented. "Sézary Syndrome" and "mycosis fungoides" appear to represent variant clinical expressions of the same disease process. It is proposed that the present confusing and archaic terminology should be discarded and that the designation "cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, with or without leukemic phase" should be used in all future descriptions of this disorder.