Open AccessInitial presentation of acute myelogenous leukemia in the infiltrate underlying an actinic keratosis
Author(s) -
Collin M. Blattner,
Andrea DeDonato,
Elen Blochin,
Viktoryia Kazlouskaya,
Dirk M. Elston
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
indian dermatology online journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-5673
pISSN - 2229-5178
DOI - 10.4103/2229-5178.142525
Subject(s) - medicine , actinic keratosis , dermatology , leukemia , lesion , biopsy , myeloid leukemia , keratosis , basal cell , presentation (obstetrics) , pathology , skin lesion , skin biopsy , immunology , surgery
We report an 85-year-old female patient who presented with an erythematous keratotic lesion on her temple suspicious of squamous cell carcinoma. Histological evaluation revealed actinic keratosis, but the underlying atypical infiltrate contained atypical myeloid forms consistent with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Upon further questioning, it was determined that the patient had a history of myelodysplastic syndrome. Her skin biopsy provided the first evidence of progression to AML. This case serves as an important reminder of the role the dermatopathologist plays in identifying serious systemic disease.