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Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Patch Stage

Early patch stage CTCL can resemble eczema or atopic dermatitis and may be misdiagnosed for years. Unlike eczema, these lesions are rarely pruritic. The flat, pink to red scaly atrophic, mottled telangiectatic patches occur primarily on the lower trunk, thighs, and breasts in women. They may be fixed and stable for years and may resolve spontaneously. Patches vary in size. Early on in the disease, the histology may not be diagnostic. On average, 3 to 6 large excisional biopsies over 6 months, may be required to confirm the diagnosis. Persistent eczema or unresponsive inflammatory skin diseases should have a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and rule out CTCL.