[Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides]

Abstract

Introduction: Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides is a rare clinical form of the disease, first described in 1978. Since then, only a hundred odd cases have been documented.

Case report: A young 19 year-old African woman had presented with hypochromatic macules since the age of 9 and for which the diagnostic enquiry had finally concluded in hypopigmented mycosis fungoides.

Discussion: The particularities of this form of mycosis fungoides, grade I according to the TNM classification, are principally its onset in black-skinned persons or of Asian origin, and the age of early onset with a predominance of pediatric cases. Its course is indolent for several years and thus source of delayed diagnosis. The differential diagnoses to be evoked are basically vitiligo, achromate eczematides and parapsoriasisis. The post-inflammatory depigmentation, frequent in black-skinned subjects, is only an eliminating diagnosis. Its treatment is that of classical Grade I mycosis fungoides: topical mechlorethamine, phototherapy and topical corticosteroids.