Open AccessCutaneous manifestations in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia involving the head, neck and distal extremities
Author(s) -
Chongrong Lu,
Li Li,
Qiaohua Qiao,
Guozhen Liu,
Lizheng Fang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
experimental and therapeutic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1792-1015
pISSN - 1792-0981
DOI - 10.3892/etm.2015.2178
Subject(s) - chronic lymphocytic leukemia , leukemia cutis , medicine , buttocks , histopathology , leukemia , dermatology , subclinical infection , pathology , head and neck , nose , surgery
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) infiltrating the skin is uncommon and can present in many different ways. The present study reports a case of CLL infiltrating multiple body areas. A 57-year-old male with a 10-year history of subclinical B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) presented with skin hypertrophic changes of the ears, eyebrows, tip of the nose, toes and fingers. In addition, the patient had erythematous plaques on the buttocks. Histopathology revealed a lymphocytic infiltrate. The patient rejected the recommended chemotherapy and, following a three-year follow-up, remained alive with mildly aggravated symptoms. It has previously been reported that infiltrative CLL can involve the head and neck; however, involvement of multiple body areas, particularly toes and fingers is rare. This case highlights the importance of considering leukemia cutis in patients with underlying CLL who present with unusual clinical features.