Leukemia cutis: A sign of relapse

Abstract

Leukemia cutis is an infiltration of the skin by myeloid or lymphoid neoplastic leukocytes resulting in clinically identifiable cutaneous lesions. It may follow, precede, or occur concomitantly with the diagnosis of systemic leukemia. A 55-year-old female patient was a known case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and was on palliative chemotherapy. She presented to the Department of Dermatology with sudden-onset nodules over the chest and abdomen which were multiple, nontender and firm in consistency. Histopathological examination from the nodule over the abdomen suggested leukemic infiltration of the skin and repeat hemogram showed reappearance of blast cells in the peripheral smear, consistent with a diagnosis of leukemia cutis with relapsed AML. The case has been reported for its rarity and poor prognosis associated with its presentation.

Keywords

• leukemia cutis
• nodules
• relapse