Leukaemia cutis for clinicians, a literature review

Abstract

Leukaemia cutis (LC) describes infiltration of the skin by leukaemia cells, resulting in clinically identifiable cutaneous lesions. LC has a wide range of clinical manifestations, which can make it difficult to distinguish LC from other skin changes. In a group of patients, LC can be the first manifestation of leukaemia, therefore skin biopsy is crucial for the diagnosis. In this mini review, we discuss various types of leukaemia most frequently represented in leukaemia cutis, in both children and adults and skin changes in multiple myeloma, focusing on the clinical presentation of LC and prognosis in patients.

Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MLL-AF) presenting as leukemia cutis with an isolated scalp nodule – A case report.

“…[6] We reported this unusual case because LC is usually seen in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), while there are few reported cases of cutaneous involvement in children with ALL, and even fewer in infant ALL [1], which refers to an aggressive type of acute leukaemia diagnosed prior to 1 year of age. [7] The frequency of leukemia cutis is 10-15% in AML and only about 1% in ALL [6]. Bone marrow in ltration and peripheral blood involvement generally develop prior to the appearance of cutaneous lesions but, rarely, LC may be the primary manifestation of leukaemia, preceding the systemic symptoms by months.…”

Dermatological manifestations of hematologic neoplasms. Part I: secondary specific skin lesions

“…Leukemia cutis is seen in 1/3 of systemic leukemia cases in childhood, mainly in the congenital forms. 4 , 18 , 19 AML is the type of leukemia most often associated with LC in this age group. 18 In congenital leukemia, the lesions have a “blueberry muffin” appearance in 30% of cases.…”

Erythroderma in a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

“…Leukemia is a hematologic malignancy with common cutaneous manifestations, including nonspecific and specific skin changes. 1 Nonspecific skin changes are inflammatory or related to bone marrow failure, whereas specific skin changes are direct extension of leukemia into the skin, termed leukemia cutis (LC). 1 Nonspecific changes are common, occurring in 30% to 40% of patients, whereas LC occurs in 4% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, and less frequently in chronic myeloid leukemia.…”

“… 1 Nonspecific skin changes are inflammatory or related to bone marrow failure, whereas specific skin changes are direct extension of leukemia into the skin, termed leukemia cutis (LC). 1 Nonspecific changes are common, occurring in 30% to 40% of patients, whereas LC occurs in 4% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, and less frequently in chronic myeloid leukemia. 1 LC is rare in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a myeloid neoplasm with characteristics of both myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasm.…”

“… 1 Nonspecific changes are common, occurring in 30% to 40% of patients, whereas LC occurs in 4% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, and less frequently in chronic myeloid leukemia. 1 LC is rare in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a myeloid neoplasm with characteristics of both myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasm. 2 , 3 …”