Clinical Characterization of Leukemia Cutis Presentation

Leukemia cutis (LC) is a rare condition that results from infiltration of neoplastic cells into the skin in patients with leukemia, mainly described in case reports or small case series. This study aimed to characterize the clinical presentation of LC and its association with leukemia evolution and prognosis. A single-institution retrospective review of medical records of patients with LC was performed. Biopsy-proven LC cases diagnosed in patients with leukemia were analyzed for a variety of clinical characteristics and prognosis; 46 patients met inclusion criteria. Leukemia cutis most commonly presented in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), though lesions were seen in several other leukemia types. Most LC lesions were identified at initial presentation of underlying leukemia but also occurred with leukemia relapse and at other stages of treatment. Most patients died within 1 year of LC diagnosis. The clinical presentation of LC is highly variable. Lesions occur in different anatomic regions; can present as papules, nodules, or plaques; and have different associated colors and symptoms. Duration between diagnosis of leukemia and death in patients who develop LC, and between LC diagnosis and death, are highly variable. Early detection of lesions might help provide a diagnosis in patients with leukemia and potentially improve prognosis if doing so results in earlier initiation of chemotherapy.