Treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: an update.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a malignancy of T cells that have an affinity for the skin. Prognosis and treatment depend on accurate staging using the TNM system. Treatment for stage I disease, which includes oral methoxsalen plus ultraviolet radiation (with or without retinoids), nitrogen mustard, total skin electron beam, and photopheresis, is generally helpful. Therapy for stage II, III, or IV disease is not as successful. Extracorporeal photopheresis is an exciting new treatment that perhaps offers help for certain cases of advanced disease. Despite current modes of treatment, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma frequently results in death.