Fine needle aspiration cytology of unilesional mycosis fungoides d′emblee

Abstract

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder accounting for 2% of all lymphomas. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare, albeit commonest form of primary cutaneous T cell lymphoma. MF d’emblee is an uncommon variant which is easily mistaken clinically for epithelial malignancy. Diagnosis at cytology is challenging due to low degree of suspicion, rare occurrence and diverse morphology. We report a case of 51-year-old male presenting with a solitary nodulo-ulcerative lesion over right thigh. Smear showed atypical lymphocytes with hyper-convoluted cerebriform nuclei along with few mature lymphocytes consistent with MF. To our knowledge, this is the first report of unilesional MF d’emblee diagnosed at fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Our case emphasizes that FNAC is an accurate method for early diagnosis and clinical staging of patients with MF.