What Is Dermatitis with Epidermotropism?

Abstract

Epidermotropism refers to the phenomenon of lymphocytes residing in the epidermis. This is in contrast to exocytosis in which lymphocytes move out through the epidermis. Exocytosis is often associated with spongiosis while epidermotropism is associated with clear halos around individual lymphocytes and generally lack spongiosis. While exocytosis and spongiosis are characteristic features of inflammatory disorders, such as eczematous dermatitis; epidermotropism is characteristic of mycosis fungoides.

Other disorders besides mycosis fungoides that may have epidermotropism include parapsoriasis, lymphomatoid drug eruption, lymphomatoid papulosis, and non-mycosis fungoides cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (Non-MF CTCL).