ABSTRACT
Cutaneous lymphomas are rare neoplasms of skin that have generally prolonged and symptomatic courses. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are much more common than cutaneous B-cell lymphomas, with mycosis fungoides (MF) being the most common CTCL. Despite many treatment options, there is no cure for MF and on many occasions, therapies lose efficacy over time. Retinoids, both topical and systemic, are one modality of treatment. Despite an unknown mechanism of action, retinoids have shown efficacy in the reduction of disease burden for patients with MF. Bexarotene is the most commonly used retinoid treatment for MF and is the only one FDA-approved for this indication. Despite this, studies have been performed showing promising results for other topical retinoids (tazarotene and alitretinoin) and oral retinoids (isotretinoin, acitretin and alitretinoin). Recommendations will be given based on the literature and the authors’ experience with utilizing retinoids and managing patient's side effects.
