Topical Nitrogen Mustard for the Treatment of Granulomatous Slack Skin

Abstract

Granulomatous slack skin (GSS) is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides in which inflammation leads to elastolysis manifested by pendulous skin folds with a predilection for flexural areas. Histologic findings include many multinucleated giant cells with large numbers of nuclei and loss of dermal elastic tissue. Definitive therapy has yet to be established, but recently interferon-alpha and radiation, interferon-gamma, and pentostatin have shown some success in the treatment of GSS. We present two cases of GSS treated with topical nitrogen mustard (chlormethine; mechlorethamine; mustine), one of whom has long-term remission and the other partial remission. Topical nitrogen mustard appears to be an effective skin-directed therapy for this rare condition.