Clinicopathological spectrum of mycosis fungoides

Cutaneous lymphomas represent a heterogeneous group of T-, NK- and B-cell neoplasms, with mycosis fungoides (MF) being the most common subtype. MF has a plethora of clinicopathological manifestations. Many variants of this lymphoma differ substantially from the 'classical' Alibert-Bazin disease and are therefore sometimes referred to as 'atypical' forms of the disease. This review addresses the whole clinicopathological spectrum of mycosis fungoides with respect to epidemiology, clinical, histopathological, immunophenotypic and genotypic features and the clinical course and prognosis of its variants: classical, erythrodermic, follicular, syringotropic, bullous/vesicular, granulomatous, poikilodermic, hypo- and hyperpigmented, unilesional, palmoplantar, hyperkeratotic/verrucous, vegetating/papillomatous, ichthyosiform, pigmented purpura-like, pustular and mucosal involvement in MF.     

Pneumatic compression in the treatment of lymphatic edema of the arm in patients subjected to radical surgery for breast cancer

Air compression procedure was used in the treatment of 32 females radically operated on for breast cancer. The desired pressure of compressed air was fed successively in the proximal direction to the six chambers of a cuffed sleeve unit which was fitted over the patient's arm enclosing it from shoulder joint to fingers. The study will be continued because good results were obtained following application of three courses of the treatment.     

The effects of enfuvirtide therapy on body composition and metabolic parameters over 48 weeks in the TORO body imaging substudy*

Objective

The aim of the study was to compare the metabolic and morphological effects of enfuvirtide plus an optimized background (OB) regimen vs. OB alone (control group) in treatment‐experienced patients in the T‐20 vs. Optimized Regimen Only (TORO) studies.

Methods

Body composition and metabolic changes were investigated in patients over 48 weeks, based on fasting chemistries, body weight, and other anthropometric measurements. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in a patient subgroup (n=155) at baseline and at weeks 24 and 48.

Results

At week 48, mean changes from baseline were similar between treatment groups for glucose, insulin, C‐peptide, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The enfuvirtide group experienced a significant increase in body weight [mean change from baseline +0.99 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) +0.54, +1.44] and, in those who had body scans, there was a significant increase in truncal fat (by DEXA: median change +419.4 g; 95% CI+71.3, +767.5) and total fat [visceral adipose tissue (VAT)+subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) by single‐slice abdominal CT scan: median change +25.5 cm²; 95% CI+8.9, +42.0] over 48 weeks; significant increases in these parameters were not seen in the control group. There was no significant change in truncal:peripheral fat ratio in either the enfuvirtide or the control group.

Conclusion

The addition of enfuvirtide to an OB regimen does not appear to have unfavourable effects on fat distribution or metabolic parameters.