Photodynamic therapy as an alternative treatment for relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides: A systemic review

Mycosis fungoides is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It is characterized by slow progress over years to decades, developing from patches to infiltrated plaques, and sometimes to tumors. Therapies such as localized chemotherapy, photochemotherapy and radiotherapy are often employed when lesions of refractory or relapsing mycosis fungoides are resistant to conventional therapies. However, these methods have acute or chronic side effects and toxicity, which may accumulate with repeated and protracted treatment cycles. Photodynamic therapy is a promising, well-tolerated option for the treatment of localized lesions with excellent cosmetic outcomes. In this article, we systematically reviewed and discussed clinical application of photodynamic therapy in relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides. There are 20 papers included in this review article. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.