A case of aleukemic leukemia cutis after COVID‐19 infection presenting as facial rash

Abstract

Aleukemic leukemia cutis (ALC) is a rare condition that is characterized by leukemic cells in the skin before presenting in the peripheral blood or bone marrow. We report a case of a 43-year-old woman who underwent assessment for bilateral facial nodules arising 1 month after COVID-19 infection. A punch biopsy specimen showed a malignant neoplasm primarily composed of immature blasts dissecting through the collagen in the dermis, concerning for myeloid sarcoma versus leukemia cutis. Bone marrow and blood specimens were negative for hematologic malignancy. The patient was appropriately treated with chemotherapy and is recovering well. This report highlights an interesting case of ALC following COVID-19 infection presenting as an isolated facial rash. Whether there is a true relationship between the patient's COVID-19 infection and her abrupt presentation of leukemia remains unclear, but we present this case regardless, in an effort to highlight a potentially unique association requiring further study.