Are there still other asbestos-related malignancies to be discovered?

Abstract

Mycosis fungoides is one of the most common forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Its diagnosis is sometimes challenging and quite difficult for the physician, because its onset clinical appearance is similar to other skin diseases. Although there are a few hypotheses about mycosis fungoides’ etiology, they aren’t fully understood and still need confirmation. We report the case of a 68 years old patient diagnosed with mycosis fungoides, who has been exposed to asbestos fibers. This case is one of the few reported cases of association between asbestos and mycosis fungoides. There is no data exploring the causal relation between asbestos exposure and mycosis fungoides but common biological mechanisms could represent an argument. If occupational exposure to asbestos will be confirmed in larger studies, a new research-field of asbestos-related diseases needs to be opened.