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Arch Dermatol. 1998;134:1033-1034.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

IN THIS issue of the ARCHIVES, Zackheim and coworkers¹ address whether the use of topical corticosteroids is effective in the management of early-stage mycosis fungoides. They provide us with an answer and challenge us with a question! Although Cohen and Baer² and Farber et al^3-4 demonstrated that topical corticosteroid use may be helpful, their trials were modest and incomplete. Zackheim et al¹ demonstrated that topical corticosteroids are effective agents in the treatment of patch-stage mycosis fungoides.

The challenging question that screams for further answer through further trials is "Where and when is the use of topical corticosteroids indicated?" The question can be further subdivided:

1. Should topical corticosteroids be used as initial therapy for early-stage mycosis fungoides, as single therapy, or as concurrent or consecutive treatment with other proved modalities, such as psoralen–UV-A, electron beam radiation, or topical nitrogen mustard?
   
2. Should topical corticosteroids be used as single therapy for patients who . . . [Full Text of this Article]