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Inpatient Considerations in the Diagnosis and Management of the Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Patient

  • Hospital-Based Dermatology (L Guggina and C Nguyen, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Dermatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review when to consider a diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in the inpatient setting and the diagnostic approach, as well as complications of disease and treatment that could lead to hospitalization.

Recent Findings

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a diverse group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas that are difficult to diagnosis as the initial presentation can mimic other benign inflammatory or infectious conditions of the skin. While the clinical course is typically indolent, with most cases normally diagnosed and managed in the outpatient settings, some CTCL-associated clinical scenarios, including infections, treatment-related toxicity/side effects, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), or spread to extra-cutaneous organs, warrant management in the inpatient setting.

Summary

Early involvement of dermatology specialists is critical for recognizing and diagnosing CTCL in a timely matter, managing treatments and their toxicities, and for improving both morbidity and mortality in patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA

    Samantha Jakuboski

  2. Center for Cutaneous Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    Thomas Doyle & Marianne Tawa

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    David C. Fisher

  4. Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Center for Cutaneous Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Nicole LeBoeuf & Cecilia Larocca

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  1. Samantha Jakuboski
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  2. Thomas Doyle
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  3. Marianne Tawa
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  4. David C. Fisher
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  5. Nicole LeBoeuf
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  6. Cecilia Larocca
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Correspondence to Cecilia Larocca.

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Jakuboski, S., Doyle, T., Tawa, M. et al. Inpatient Considerations in the Diagnosis and Management of the Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Patient. Curr Derm Rep 11, 233–243 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-022-00367-4

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