Population-based estimate of survival and determinants of prognosis in patients with mycosis fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides is the most common cutaneous lymphoma in the US, and it is increasing rapidly in both incidence and mortality. Our knowledge of its prognosis derives primarily from case series, which are subject to possible selection bias and other limitations. The current analysis examines trends in survival and prognostic factors in data from nine population-based cancer registries in the US. Among the 650 cases followed with known dates of diagnosis and no history of prior malignancy, the median survival time was 7.8 years. Advanced age, black race, prior malignancy, and Sezary syndrome presence at the time of diagnosis were each independently associated with poor prognosis. Fatality was not influenced by sex or geographic area. There was no consistent evidence of improved survival with time over the 12-year study period.