Leukemia Cutis: A Report of 17 Cases and a Review of the Literature

• Published in: Actas dermo-sifiliográficas (English ed.) Vol. 107; no. 9; pp. e65 - e69
• Main Authors: Martínez-Leboráns, L, Victoria-Martínez, A.M, Torregrosa-Calatayud, J.L, Alegre de Miquel, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child, Preschool; Dermatology; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Hematologic neoplasms; Humans; Infant; Internal Medicine; Leucemia; Leucemia cutis; Leukemia; Leukemia cutis; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - diagnosis; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - pathology; Leukemia, Myeloid - diagnosis; Leukemia, Myeloid - pathology; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - epidemiology; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - pathology; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute; Leukemic Infiltration - diagnosis; Leukemic Infiltration - drug therapy; Leukemic Infiltration - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasia hematológica; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Skin - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Tertiary Care Centers - statistics & numerical data; Leukemia cutis; Neoplasia hematológica; Leukemia; Hematologic neoplasms; Leucemia cutis; Leucemia
• ISSN: 1578-2190; 2173-5778; 1578-2190
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adengl.2016.08.014

Abstract Dermatologic manifestations of leukemia can be both specific and nonspecific (e.g., opportunistic infections, purpura and ecchymosis, Sweet syndrome). Leukemia cutis refers to the infiltration of the skin with neoplastic leukocytes and its early diagnosis has important prognostic implications. We report on 17 cases of leukemia cutis seen in our department between 1994 and 2014 and describe the characteristics of the patients (age, sex, medical history), the morphology of the lesions, and associations with systemic disease. Most of the patients were male and the most common associated malignancy was acute myeloid leukemia. The most frequent dermatologic manifestations were nodules or erythematous papules on the limbs. We describe our experience with the diagnosis and management of leukemia cutis over a period of 20 years and emphasize the importance of clinical signs in the early diagnosis of this condition.