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Munise D, Aykut TS, Pembe O. Multiple skin metastases in a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Our Dermatol Online. 2019;10(1):74-76.

 

 
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Multiple skin metastases in a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia

Daye Munise1, Temiz Selami Aykut1, Oltulu Pembe2

1Necmettin Erbakan Univercity Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Konya, Turkey 2²Necmettin Erbakan Univercity Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Konya, Turkey

Corresponding author: Dr. Temiz Selami Aykut, E-mail: aykutmd42@gmail.com

Submission: 11.07.2018; Acceptance: 27.09.2018

DOI:10.7241/ourd.20191.20

ABSTRACT

Metastatic skin tumors may occur before or at any time before the diagnosis of malignancy. Skin metastases are thought to be indicative of advanced stage malignancy or non-treatment response. Cutaneous metastases are a worse prognostic mark, especially in patients with cancer of the lung, ovary, upper respiratory tract, or upper digestive tract. Acute myelomonocytic leukemia is a malignant-hematopoietic clonal sickness of bone marrow and disrupts production of normal blood cells. Although there are many and various dermatological findings in acute leukemia, they are mostly due to cytopenia and haemostasis disorders and skin metastasis is not frequent. Here, we present a case of skin involvement with a diagnosis of acute myelomonocytic leukemia, which is uncommon in the literature and nodules on the whole body.

Key words: Acute leukemia, Acute myelomonocytic leukemia, Skin metastas

INTRODUCTION

Metastatic skin tumors may occur before or at any time before the diagnosis of malignancy [1]. Skin metastases are thought to be indicative of advanced stage malignancy or non-treatment response [2]. Cutaneous metastases are a worse prognostic mark, especially in patients with cancer of the lung, ovary, upper respiratory tract, or upper digestive tract [3].

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AML M4) is a malignant-hematopoietic clonal sickness of bone marrow and disrupts production of normal blood cells [4]. Although there are many and various dermatological findings in AML, they are mostly due to cytopenia and haemostasis disorders and skin metastasis is not frequent [5].

Here, we present a case of skin involvement with a diagnosis of AML M4, which is uncommon in the literature and nodules on the whole body.

CASE REPORT

A 19-year-old woman was referred from the hematology polyclinic to the dermatology polyclinic because of the multiple purple nodular lesions on the skin. Dermatologic examination revealed purple colored infiltrative nodular lesions in the trunk and extremities (Fig. 1). It was identified that the lesions of the case developed within one month and covered the whole body. It was learned that the case was followed up with AML M4 diagnosis. In the laboratory review; WBC: 30,9/ul Neu: 1,48/ul Monocyt: 23,8/ul Hgb: 10,5 g/dL Plt: 35,4/uL LDH: 1333 U/L CRP: 201,7 mg/L.

Figure 1: Purple colored infiltrative nodular lesions on the whole body.

In terms of differential diagnosis, skin biopsies were taken with preliminary diagnosis (AML skin metastasis, lichenoid drug reaction, papular mucinosis, B cell lymphoma). Histopathologic examination, diffuse tumor infiltration in the dermis, strong CD33 (+) in the tumor cells due to weak CD117 and CD4 (+); myeloid originated (especially M4) leukemia infiltration (Figs. 2A – 2E).

Figure 2: (a)X10, H&E. (b)X20, H&E. (c)X40, H&E; papillary and reticular dermis are seen as infiltrating with atypical blastic cells. (d)X20, LCA (leukocyte common antigen). (e)X40, CD33; immunocytochemically, blastic cells were positive with LCA and CD33.

In the present case, sepsis was considered by hematology, the patient was hospitalized. The patient was admitted to intensive care unit and the multiple skin metastases were found to be hemorrhagic (Fig. 3). The patient died within one week due to sepsis in the intensive care unit. Informed consent was obtained from the case for the publication of this case report and images.

Figure 3: Hemorrhagic infiltrative nodular lesions on the whole body.

Prior to the study, patient gave written consent to the examination and biopsy after having been informed about the procedure.

DISCUSSION

Cancers of the lung, kidney and gastrointestinal tract in males, breast cancer in females are the most common skin metastases [6]. Clinically, skin metastases are usually seen as nonspecific nodule, zosteriform pattern or carcinoma erysipeloides. More rarely, skin metastases may be seen in neoplastic alopecia, annular erythema and ulcer [7]. Lookingbill et al. have demonstrated that the most common lesion in cutaneous metastasis is the nodule [3]. In our case, multiple nodular lesions were observed throughout the whole body.

Histopathological examination is the most important property in the diagnosis of cutaneous metastases, as it is similar to that of the primary tumor [8]. In our study, histology of the sections showed acute myelomonocytic leukemia.

Most cases of cutaneous metastases are indicative of extensive spreading of the disease and death with worse prognosis [9]. The factor that influences the survival is the time elapsed between diagnosis and the occurrence of the cutaneous metastases. The treatment for most patients is palliative, and although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are frequently used in these patients, they are inconclusive in many cases [10].

Skin metastases can lead to a diagnosis of primary unknown cancer. However, skin metastases usually occur during the course of an existing cancer [11]. The presence of skin metastases is important in terms of showing the failure of treatment with cancer. When skin metastases are the first distant metastases, recognition of it is of great importance in terms of treatment change [12]. In our case, skin metastasis was the first metastasis detected.

Leukemia cutis (LC) is a condition presenting various cutaneous lesions such as papules, macules, plaques, nodules, ecchymoses, palpable purpura and ulcerative lesions, which are formed by skin invasion of neoplastic cells [13]. Survive from diagnosis of leukaemia cutis to death ranged from 3 to 24 months. In 13% of LC cases, the underlying disease is AML, most commonly in the monocytic subtype of AML [14]. So in our case, Acute myelomonocytic leukemia was present.

Leukemia cutis lesions are generally localized, and can influence any part of the body. Along with being variable in the studies, it has been reported that the most common affected region is the trunk [15]. In our case it was interesting to find that AML M4 skin involvement is widespread. In the literature, there were no cases as wide as skin involvement of our case.

CONCLUSION

Leukemia cutis is an uncommon condition, its occurrence entails worse prognosis, as it is corporated with disease progression and survival reduce in these patients. We wanted to note that leukemia cutis should not be forgotten in the differential diagnosis of nodular skin lesions.

CONSENT

The examination of the patient was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki principles.

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Notes

Source of Support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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