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Clinicopathologic Features, Natural History, and Relationship to Mycosis Fungoides

Regina Fink-Puches, MD; Peter Wolf, MD; Helmut Kerl, MD; Lorenzo Cerroni, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(9):1169-1173.

Background  A possible association between lichen aureus (LA) and mycosis fungoides (MF) has been suggested in the past. We evaluated the clinicopathologic features of LA and its relationship to MF. Data from 23 patients with a clinicopathologic diagnosis of LA were reviewed.

Observations  Lesions were asymmetrically localized on 1 area of the body (mostly 1 extremity) and were characterized histologically by dense, bandlike lymphocytic infiltrates. A monoclonal T-cell population was detected in half of the cases. After a mean follow-up of 102.1 months, 14 patients had no sign of skin disease, 7 patients had unmodified skin lesions, and 2 other patients with unmodified skin lesions had died of unrelated conditions. Treatment modalities did not affect the outcome. There was no relationship between the presence or absence of monoclonality and patient status at follow-up assessments.

Conclusion  Patients with classic lesions of LA do not show progression to MF.

Author Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.