Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

One of the most common forms of T-cell lymphoma is cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a general term for T-cell lymphomas that involve the skin. CTCL can also involve the blood, lymph nodes, and other internal organs.

Symptoms can include dry skin, itching (which can be severe), a red rash, and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease affects men more often than women and usually occurs in men in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Most patients with CTCL experience only skin symptoms. Some patients with early stage CTCL might not progress to later stages at all, while others might progress rapidly with the cancer spreading to lymph nodes and/or internal organs.

Subtypes of CTCL

CTCL describes many different disorders with various symptoms, outcomes, and treatment considerations:

• Mycosis Fungoides (MF): the most common type of CTCL, accounting for approximately one-half of all CTCLs. MF can look different in each patient, with skin symptoms that can appear as patches, plaques, or tumors.
• Sézary Syndrome: characterized by the presence of lymphoma cells in the blood, patients with Sézary Syndrome often present with extensive thin, red, itchy rashes that typically appear on the skin.

To learn more about CTCL, download the Cutaneous Lymphoma Fact Sheet.