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Number 1 Skin Cancer & Pre-Cancer Care

B. Skin Cancer Types

Number 1 Skin Cancer & Pre-Cancer Care

A. Skin Cancer Diagnosis

B. Skin Cancer Types

C. Skin Cancer Treatment

D. Pre-Cancerous Lesions

Number 1 Medical Dermatology
(Chronic & Inflammatory Skin Diseases)
Number 3 Pigment & Lesion Disorders
Number 4 Non-Cancer Growth
Number 5 Surgical Dermatology (Non-Cancer Procedures)
Number 6 Cosmetic Dermatology
Cutanous T-Cell Lymphoma PDF

• Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL)

(A rare lymphoma that can start in the skin and sometimes look like eczema or psoriasis)

1. What Is CTCL?

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma where certain immune cells (T-cells) become abnormal and collect in the skin. CTCL can sometimes involve the blood, lymph nodes, or other organs.

The most common CTCL types are:

  • Mycosis fungoides (MF) (often slow-growing)

  • Sézary syndrome (SS) (a less common form that involves skin and blood)

Important: Many people live for years with CTCL that is treatable and manageable—especially in early stages.

2. What Does CTCL Look Like?

CTCL can vary, but common skin findings include:

  • Dry, scaly patches that may resemble eczema

  • Thicker plaques (raised, more firm areas)

  • Itching, sometimes severe

  • In more advanced disease: tumors, widespread redness (erythroderma), or enlarged lymph nodes

CTCL often appears on trunk, buttocks, hips, or areas covered by clothing, and it may come and go or respond only partially to typical rash treatments.

3. Why CTCL Can Be Hard to Diagnose

Early CTCL can mimic benign rashes, and diagnosis often requires:

  • More than one biopsy

  • Clinic-pathology correlation (matching what we see on your skin with what the pathologist sees under the microscope)

4. How CTCL Is Diagnosed

Evaluation may include:

  • Full skin exam (sometimes measuring body surface area involved)

  • Skin biopsy (sometimes multiple samples)

  • Blood tests (especially if Sézary syndrome is suspected)

  • Lymph node exam and, in selected cases, imaging or specialist referral

5.  Treatment Options

Treatment is customized to your stage, symptoms, and goals. Many patients—especially with early MF—are treated with skin-directed therapies.

Common skin-directed treatments

  • Prescription topical therapies (anti-inflammatory and/or anti-cancer creams, depending on plan)

  • Phototherapy (light therapy such as narrowband UVB or PUVA in appropriate cases)

  • Targeted spot treatments (selected lesions)

When systemic treatment is needed

If disease is more extensive or involves blood/lymph nodes, CTCL care may include systemic medications and coordination with oncology/hematology.

6. Pre-Op Instructions

(For biopsy or phototherapy — not surgery)

Before a CTCL evaluation / biopsy

  • Bring a list of all topicals, prescriptions, OTC products, and supplements

  • Take photos of the rash during flares (many rashes change day-to-day)

  • Tell us if you have:

    • Enlarged lymph nodes, fevers, night sweats, weight loss

    • Severe itch impacting sleep

  • If you’re using strong topical steroids, don’t stop abruptly—we’ll guide what to do before biopsy.

If phototherapy is planned

  • Avoid tanning/sunburn

  • Tell us about any medications that cause sun sensitivity

  • Arrive with clean skin (no heavy oils/perfumes on treatment areas)

7. Post-Op Instructions

After a skin biopsy

  • Keep the bandage on and dry for 24 hours (unless instructed otherwise)

  • Then daily: clean gently, pat dry, apply ointment if instructed, cover with a clean bandage

  • Avoid soaking (pools/hot tubs/baths) until healed

  • Call if you have increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever, or bleeding that won’t stop with pressure

After starting CTCL treatment

  • Many therapies require weeks to months to judge response

  • Keep follow-ups so we can adjust treatment and manage itch

  • If phototherapy is used, mild redness is common; report painful “sunburn” reactions

Request An Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) contagious

No. CTCL is not contagious.

Not always. Mycosis fungoides often progresses slowly and can be managed long-term, especially when found early.

Early CTCL can resemble eczema or psoriasis, and diagnosis may require multiple biopsies plus correlation with your clinical pattern.

Sézary syndrome is a form of CTCL where abnormal T-cells are found in the blood, and skin redness may be widespread.

Yes. Phototherapy (like narrowband UVB or PUVA) is an important skin-directed treatment for many patients with MF.

Sometimes. Many early cases are managed primarily with dermatology skin-directed therapy, but more advanced disease may involve hematology/oncology as part of a team approach.

Seek urgent care for trouble breathing, severe weakness, or rapidly worsening, painful skin with fever. Call our office promptly for rapidly spreading redness, new tumors, painful sores, or swollen lymph nodes.