A case of acute lymphocytic leukemia with initial manifestations in the skin

Kim, Jong Soon; Lee, Seung Chull; Chun, Inn Ki; Kim, Young Pio

Abstract

The leukemias are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from the malignant transformation of hematopoietic cells. The cutaneous lesions associated with leukemia may be divided into the specific (leukemic infiltration) and nonspecific (leukemids). These may occur separately or in combination with each other. A 28 year old man admitted to the Department of Dermatology in December 1989, for diffuse infiltrated skin lesions of five months duration. In July 1989, he had experienced hyperpigmented diffuse infiltration on the face, which gradually spread to involve the neck and trunk. In November 1989, he felt cervical, submandibular, and inguinal lymph node enlargement. Skin biopsy specimen showed diffuse dermal and subcutaneous infiltration of atypical lymphocytes. Bone marrow biopsy and peripheral blood smear specimen showed changes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia(L). In addition, we studied infiltrated cell.; by immunoperoxidase staining with a pannel of monoclonal antibodies. The results revealed that the atypical cells expressed mainly helper/inducer T cell marker.