Leukemic vasculitis: A rare pattern of leukemia cutis

Abstract

Although non-specific skin lesions are quite common in patients with leukemia, the specific infiltration of the skin by blast cells, known as leukemia cutis, is rare. Its incidence ranges from 1 to 50% and depends on the specific type of leukemia. Leukemic vasculitis represents a rare form of leukemia cutis consisting of the involvement and destruction of vessel walls by leukemic cells, which in themselves cause the vascular injury. To date, only few cases of leukemic vasculitis have been described. Here, we report two cases of this rare skin condition, one of which mimicked cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.