Mycosis fungoides: A great imitator

Abstract

Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, typically presents in its early stage as inflammatory erythematous patches or plaques, with epidermotropism as the histopathologic hallmark of the disease. Over the past 30 years, numerous atypical types of MF, which deviate from the classic Alibert-Bazin presentation of the disease, have been described. These variants can simulate a wide variety of benign inflammatory skin disorders either clinically, both clinically and histopathologically, or mainly histopathologically. We have summarized the many faces of the disease, which set MF as a “great imitator,” with special focus on the differential diagnosis and its benign mimickers.