Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-associated Leser-Trélat sign: Report and world literature review

Abstract

Background: The sign of Leser-Trélat is characterized by the sudden appearance of seborrheic keratoses associated with an underlying malignancy. Objectives: An elderly man who developed multiple new-onset seborrheic keratoses temporally associated with a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides is described and lymphoma-associated Leser-Trélat sign is reviewed. Methods: Pubmed was used to search the following terms: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Leser-Trélat, leukemia, lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, and Sézary syndrome. Papers with these terms and references cited within these papers were reviewed. Results: An 84-year-old man developed multiple seborrheic keratoses temporally associated with a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides is presented. He was treated with bexarotene and achieved clinical remission; the number of seborrheic keratoses also decreased. Lymphoma-associated Leser-Trélat sign has been observed not only with mycosis fungoides but also other lymphomas and leukemias. Conclusions: The sign of Leser-Trélat is predominantly associated with solid organ adenocarcinomas. Albeit less common, an eruptive onset of seborrheic keratoses can also occur in association with hematopoietic malignancies.