[A comparative study of the quantitative distribution and ultrastructure of Langerhans cells in the epidermis of patients with chronic benign dermatoses and mycosis fungoides].

Using histoenzymatic assay for ATPase activity and electron microscopy, Langerhans' cells (LC) in biopsy specimens taken from skin lesions of 20 patients with chronic benign dermatoses (CBD) and of 28 patients suffering from mycosis fungoides (MF) were identified. In the early lesions of MF the reduction of the number of cell dendrites, disappearance of normal arrangement and the reduced absolute quantity of LC were observed on comparison with patients with CBD. Ultrastructurally, the destroyed forms of LC were predominantly observed in MF lesions, while in cases of CBD most of the LC were functionally active. The authors suggest that the examination of functional activity, quantitative distribution and ultrastructural features of LC should be used as an early morphologic test for differential diagnosis of early signs of MF and CBD this being of vital importance for an adequate and due treatment.