Cutaneous involvement in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Background: Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia has been associated with various nonspecific cutaneous manifestations. Rarely has the leukemia been reported to directly affect the skin.

Methods: This case documents the progression of a patient who ultimately developed chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, by clinical examination, hematologic parameters, dermatopathology, and bone marrow pathology.

Results: The skin showed nonspecific cutaneous involvement, progressing to specific leukemic lesions parallel with increasing systemic and hematologic involvement.

Conclusions: Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia can manifest with lesions of leukemia cutis. The possibility of nonspecific cutaneous involvement in the preleukemic phase exists.