Defining early mycosis fungoides

This editorial review summarizes the results of 5 meetings sponsored by the International Society for Cutaneous Lymphonia at which the clinicopathologic and ancillary features of early mycosis fungoides were critically examined. Based Oil this analysis an algorithm was developed for the diagnosis of early mycosis fungoides involving a holistic integration of clinical, histopathologic, immunopathologic, and molecular biological characteristics. A novel aspect of this algorithm is that it relies on multiple types of criteria rather than just one, for example, histopathology. Before its finalization, the proposed diagnostic algorithm will require validation and possibly further refinement at multiple centres during the next several years. It is anticipated that a more standardized approach to the diagnosis of: early mycosis fungoides will have a beneficial impact on the epidemiology, prognostication, treatment and analysis of clinical trials pertaining to this most common type of cutaneous lymphoma.