J Gynecol Oncol.  2012 Oct;23(4):288-290. 10.3802/jgo.2012.23.4.288.

Sweet's syndrome: a cutaneous harbinger of ovarian carcinoma

• Fader AN
• Winder AD
• Sandadi S
• DeBernardo R

• KMID: 1810127
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2012.23.4.288

Abstract

Sweet's syndrome, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a condition characterized by fever, neutrophilia, erythematous skin lesions, and a dermal infiltrate consisting predominantly of mature neutrophils on histology. Sweet's syndrome is a reactive phenomenon and should be considered a cutaneous marker of systemic disease, including underlying malignancy. We present a case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with vague abdominal symptoms and a tender, erythematous rash on her extremities. Biopsy of her skin lesions revealed Sweet's syndrome. A work-up for malignancy eventually demonstrated a pelvic mass and carcinomatosis, and a diagnosis of advanced-stage papillary serous ovarian carcinoma was subsequently made. In postmenopausal women who present with Sweet's syndrome, a comprehensive evaluation for malignancy is indicated. In women with a known diagnosis of cancer, Sweet's syndrome may manifest in the detection of persistent or recurrent disease.

Keyword

Cutaneous rash; Neutrophilia; Ovarian neoplasms; Paraneoplastic syndrome; Sweet's syndrome

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Carcinoma
Exanthema
Extremities
Female
Fever
Humans
Middle Aged
Neutrophils
Ovarian Neoplasms
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Skin
Sweet Syndrome

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Lesions of Sweet's syndrome at diagnosis. Characteristic erythematous, coalescing skin lesions of Sweet's syndrome on the patient's lower extremity.

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  Fig. 2 Lesions of Sweet's syndrome after treatment. Resolution of skin lesions after treatment with cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

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