[Cutaneous manifestations of leukemia].

INTRODUCTION: To describe the type and frequency of cutaneous manifestations of leukemia.

METHODS: Observational, descriptive study. We included patients over 16 years of age, with confirmed diagnosis of leukemia from the Hematology and Dermatology Departments of the outpatient clinic and from in-patients. Patients with bone marrow transplantation were excluded. A complete history and physical examination of the skin and appendages was performed, with biopsy and cultures if required. The cutaneous manifestations were classified as infection or drug-related, leukemic infiltration, associated dermatosis to leukemia and non-specific lesions. Descriptive statistics was employed.

RESULTS: We included 142 patients (62 females, 80 males) with the following diagnoses: acute myeloid leukemia (n=36), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=52), chronic myeloid leukemia (n=21), chronic lymphocitic leukemia (n=30) and hairy cells leukemia (n=3). 42% of patients (n=60) presented some dermatoses. There were 36 non-specific dermatoses, 21 drug-related, 20 infectious, 3 infiltrative and none associated.

CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous manifestations directly related to leukemia are frequent, being the non-specific ones, the most commonly observed. However, a thorough dermatologic examination is important in these patients as part of an overall evaluation.