MULTIINSTITUTIONAL STUDY OF CUTANEOUS T-CELL LYMPHOMA AND ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA-LYMPHOMA

A multi-institutional study was carried out on 79 patients (56 males and 23 females) with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), 64 patients (35 males and 29 females) with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) from 10 institutions during 3 years from 1986 to 1988. In this study, CTCL was categorized into two groups, one Albert-Brazin-type mycosis fungiodes (MF) and the other CTCL excluding Albert-Bazin-type MF (NHL). Detailed clinical information was recorded for each patient. A high incidence of visceral involvement (leukemic manifestations, generalized lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegary) and severe clinical features (an abnormally high level of LDH, anemia, hypoproteinemia, hypercalcemia, fever and weight loss) were seen in the patients with ATL, but were absent in patients with MF. CTCL excluding Alibert-Brazin-type MF showed intermediate features. These results support the concept that clinically, epidemiologically and etiologically, MF is a different disorder from ATL, and that CTCL excluding Alibert-Bazin-type MF shows features different from Alibert-Bazin-type MF.