Immunoelectron microscopy related to T-cell monoclonal surface antigen in mycosis fungoides.

For the purpose of diagnosing and staging cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the nuclear contour index and subsets of T-cells in the lesions were studied. Nuclear contour index measured in T-cells identified precisely with monoclonal pan-T antibody was found to be higher than nuclear contour index measured in T-cell-like cells with significant nuclear convolution. Nuclear contour index increased as the disease progressed from erythematous to tumor stage or to the Sézary syndrome. The relative ratio of suppressor cytotoxic T-cells to helper T-cells was higher in the early rather than late stage of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.