Diagnostic challenge of aleukemic leukemia cutis preceding acute myelogenous leukemia: A case report

Abstract

Aleukemic leukemia cutis is a rare condition in which malignant white cells invade the skin before they appear in the peripheral blood or bone marrow. It is often associated with a poor prognosis. The condition presents a diagnostic challenge as its manifestations are quite variable terms of lesion type. It can manifest as papules, nodules, and/or plaques, and in rare cases erythematous macules, blisters, and ulcers. The most commonly affected areas of the body are the lower extremities, followed by the upper extremities, back, trunk, and face. Due to the non-specific presentation of the disease, skin biopsy and comprehensive immunohistochemical testing can be extremely helpful in the diagnostic work-up. We describe a case of leukemia cutis presenting prior to acute myelogenous leukemia that was initially misdiagnosed as hyper-IgG4 disease.