Ravi Das

and 5 more

Introduction:Hypopigmented Mycosis Fungoides(HMF) is the most prevalent form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and is classified as a low-grade lymphoproliferative disease. It starts in peripheral epidermotropic T-cells, most especially memory T-cells (CD45RO+), which express the CD4+ immunophenotype and T-cell receptor (TCR) [1], [2].It initially exhibit erythematous patches and/or plaques, which are indicative of the early stages of HMF. Clinically, the patches and plaques are generally seen on sun-protected parts of the body, vary in size and form, and usually have a scaly surface with varying degrees of atrophy [3]. HMF can develop gradually over a number of phases, albeit not all patients experience every stage. Skin disorders arise when malignant T cells migrate from the blood into the skin; the skin cells themselves are not cancerous. Although the exact cause is still unknown, it seems to be caused by long-term antigenic stimulation that causes T-lymphocyte clonal growth and epidermal infiltration. However, it is still unclear what mechanism or components are involved in this antigenic activation. Most frequently, patches appear on the breasts, buttocks, upper thighs, and lower abdomen. They may stay constant throughout time or vanish and then resurface. Some afflicted people develop plaques, the subsequent stage of mycosis fungoides, from patches [4], [5]. MF mostly affects men, with a sex ratio of 1.6:1 to 2:1, and usually strikes people in their late fifties. Most of the patients are Caucasian. The Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) released an estimate for non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in 2016 that showed 5,210 new cases in males and 5,030 in women [5]. Between 1992 and 2001, 1610 NHL cases were diagnosed in Pakistan’s Department of Pathology at Aga Khan University Hospital. Of these, 133 (8.26%) had cutaneous involvement, while 14.5% were diagnosed as MF. MF contributed 0.86% of total NHLs. The age ranged from 28 to 73 years, with a median age of 52.5 years and a male-to-female ratio of 2.5:1. Four cases had generalized body lesions [6].This case highlights a diagnostic issue since hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (HMF) can resemble other disorders like vitiligo and leprosy. It manifests in a unique way in a young female with darker skin. Since it can mimic benign hypopigmented lesions, HMF is relatively uncommon and frequently misdiagnosed, especially in patients with darker skin. This delay in identification highlights how crucial it is to take MF into account in atypical presentations and how immunohistochemical staining and histological investigation are necessary to confirm the diagnosis in these situations. This case has been reported according to CARE CRITERIA [7].