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Paraneoplastic plaque-like cutaneous mucinosis: a case report
Joshua L Owen1, Andrew P Word, Travis Vandergriff
1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Dermatology Online Journal
|March 11, 2015
Summary
Plaque-like cutaneous mucinosis (PCM) can signal an underlying cancer. This rare skin condition, associated with pancreatobiliary adenocarcinoma, improved with chemotherapy, underscoring the need for malignancy screening.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Plaque-like cutaneous mucinosis (PCM) is a rare disorder characterized by dermal mucin deposition.
- PCM can be associated with underlying malignancies, presenting as a paraneoplastic dermatosis.
Observation:
- A 72-year-old man presented with pruritic, waxy papules and nodules coalescing into plaques on the shoulder, scalp, and forehead.
- Skin biopsy confirmed cutaneous mucinosis, and lesions progressed despite conservative treatment.
Findings:
- An occult pancreatobiliary adenocarcinoma was diagnosed.
- The patient's skin lesions improved with chemotherapy for the underlying malignancy.
- This represents the third reported case of paraneoplastic PCM and the first linked to pancreatobiliary adenocarcinoma.
Implications:
- PCM may serve as an indicator of occult malignancy.
- A thorough search for underlying cancer is crucial in patients diagnosed with PCM.
- This case expands the known associations of paraneoplastic dermatoses.
