[Staphylodermia superficialis circinata. The 5th obligatory cutaneous paraneoplasia]

Clinical observations on two cases of staphylodermia superficialis circinata are reported. This rare variation of superificial staphylococcal skin infection is identical with the "erythema necroticans migrans". As this cutaneous manifestation is highly associated with malignant internal diseases it must be regarded as a "cutaneous paraneoplasia". Out of 14 cases of erythema necroticans migrans, so far published this dermatosis occured in 13 patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Association with pancreatitis was demonstrated in one case. In both cases herein reported the cutaneous manifestations were associated with a carcinoma of the pancreas and with cervix cancer. Extreme loss of weight, atrophic glossitis, therapy-resistant anemia and a slight diabetes are extra-cutaneous symptoms of this paraneoplastic syndrom.