Leukemia Cutis as an Isolated Extra-medullary Blast Crisis in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Rare Case Report
Suprotim Ghosh
*
Department of Hematology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Subhra Kamal Saha
Department of Hematology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Prakas Kumar Mandal
Department of Hematology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Shuvra Neel Baul
Department of Hematology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Leukemia Cutis, characterized by infiltration of skin by leukemic cells leading to clinically recognizable cutaneous lesions, is a rare manifestation found in various underlying leukemias and sometimes as sole presentation. Its presence often correlates with underlying advanced stages of the disease and invariably associated with a dismal prognosis. Moreover, cutaneous leukemic proliferations often pose a diagnostic challenge. In this article, we report a rare case of biopsy proven leukemia cutis in a patient of chronic myeloid leukemia without bone marrow or other organ involvement, successfully treated with intensive chemotherapy. We emphasize the importance of early clinical identification, pathological diagnosis and apt initiation of definitive therapy.
Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia, skin lesions, leukemia cutis, extra-medullary blast crisis