Diagnosing CTCL

Usually, a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in conditions of the skin) will diagnose CTCL (Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma).

CTCL may also be identified by:

• A family doctor
• An oncologist (a doctor who specializes in cancer)
• A hematologist/oncologist (a doctor who specializes in cancers of the blood)
• An oncology nurse (a nurse who specializes in caring for people with cancer)

In the early stages, CTCL is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms and laboratory results resemble those of other skin conditions. Remember that individual symptoms may vary.

A small sample of skin

A doctor will take a biopsy or small sample of the affected skin. A pathologist (specialist who works in a laboratory identifying cancer cells in samples) will examine it.

The biopsy may be taken from patches of affected skin that may be found in areas like folds of the skin, the chest, the back, the thighs, and the buttocks.

Other information that helps diagnose CTCL includes:

• Examination of the lymph nodes (places in the body that circulate and store white blood cells)
• Blood tests for abnormal cells
• A chest x-ray or CT scan, depending on your medical history