Molecular Biomarkers & Diagnosis

Fulminant Mycosis Fungoides with Tissue Eosinophilia: A Unique Presentation of Two Cases with Acro-Periorbital Ulceration and An Aggressive Clinical Course

Abstract

David R Pearson, Mayumi Fujita, and Whitney A High

We describe two unique cases of fulminant mycosis fungoides with remarkably similar and aggressive clinical courses resulting in death. Both cases demonstrated ulcerated palmar and periorbital plaques and marked tissue eosinophilia, which was confirmed by T-cell receptor γ chain gene rearrangement studies to display identical monoclonality at temporally and anatomically distinct sites. Dense eosinophilic infiltrates on biopsy led to misdiagnosis of inflammatory dermatoses in both instances.

While mycosis fungoides may be challenging to diagnose histologically, the presence of eosinophils in progressive disease may herald a poor prognosis and should not exclude the diagnosis.