Leukemia Cutis Emerging at the Site of Previous Catheter Insertion

Abstract

A 70-year-old man presented with a dark red nodule on his left upper arm after 10 months after complete remission from chemotherapy for his acute myeloid leukemia. The location of the nodule matched the catheter insertion site for his chemotherapy. Histopathology showed a dense infiltration of tumor cells expressing identical markers to the primary acute myeloid leukemia. These findings led to a diagnosis of leukemia cutis. Leukemia cutis is a relatively rare condition recognized as a poor prognostic factor for leukemia that tends to develop after previous inflammation and trauma. Lesions relating to catheterization are not common, so dermatologists should be aware of this pathognomonic disease.