Home UV phototherapy of early mycosis fungoides: long-term follow-up observations in thirty-one patients.

BACKGROUND

In 1982 we reported our preliminary observations on the use of home UV phototherapy for patch and early plaque phase mycosis fungoides (MF).

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to present follow-up data of the original 31 patients, covering an interval of up to 15 years.

METHODS

All patients used a commercially available UV phototherapy unit that contained four Westinghouse FS40 fluorescent lamps for daily exposures of their non-sun-exposed skin regions.

RESULTS

A complete clinical and histologic response to home phototherapy occurred in 23 patients (74%) with a maximum duration of the response from 5 months to more than 15 years (median 51 months). After maintenance phototherapy was discontinued, seven patients (23%) had a sustained disease-free interval lasting more than 58 months (median > 90 months). This indicates that cure may have been achieved in a minority of patients. Phototherapy was well tolerated without evidence of significant photodamage or photocarcinogenicity.

CONCLUSION

These observations indicate that home phototherapy may be a therapeutic option for treatment of selected patients with early MF.