Diagnostic Image

Volume 2 - Issue 10

Diagnostic Image

Barry D, Schmieder A, Leukemia Cutis. N Engl J Med 2021; 385:1316

History

A 65-year-old man presented with a 5-day history of a painful, symmetric rash on his hands and elbows.

Diagnosis:

Skin biopsy revealed leukemia cutis. Findings on bone marrow biopsy were consistent with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Notes

1. Leukemia cutis is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes or their precursors into the epidermis, the dermis, or the subcutis, resulting in clinically identifiable cutaneous lesions [1].
2. Leukemia cutis is a generic term to describe specific cutaneous involvement. Although any subtype of leukemia can involve the skin, the most common types seen in clinical practice are chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with monocytic or myelomonocytic morphology [2].
3. Involvement by chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is extremely rare and may be indicative of the blast phase [2].

Reference

1. Rao AG, Danturty I. Leukemia Cutis. Indian J Dermatol. 2012 Nov-Dec; 57(6): 504.
2. Parsi M, Go MS, Ahmed A. Leukemia Cutis. StatPearls. 2021