Mycosis fungoides: An Australian experience

Analysis was undertaken of 107 patients with mycosis fungoides who presented to St Vincent s Hospital, Melbourne, during 1977-95. The mean age at diagnosis (55 years) was significantly older than the mean age of onset of symptoms (48 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 7.7 years. Urban residence was over-represented in this group of patients and in those with mycosis fungoides recorded at the State Cancer Registry. Eighty-four per cent were diagnosed at Stage I or II of the disease. Presentation with disease more advanced than Stage I was more likely to be found in males. Disease localized only to the trunk accounted for 45 of all patients. The mean number of biopsies prior to diagnosis was 1.4 but two-thirds were diagnosed at first biopsy. Almost 85 of patients had as their initial treatment either PUVA (44.9 ), topical steroids (20.6 ) or topical nitrogen mustard (18.7 ) and 57 received only one or two treatment modalities during the period of the study. Stage at presentation was not related to the likelihood of clearance following treatment, recurrence, progression to a more advanced stage of disease or survival.