An approach to cutaneous changes caused by hematologic malignancies

Most hematologic malignancies can present with or later develop cutaneous lesions. The proper diagnosis of such patients through the evaluation of their cutaneous lesions is complicated both by the confusing variety of clinical findings and by the shifting classifications of hematologic malignancies in the face of evolving knowledge. The spectrum of T-cell malignancies continues to increase and now includes several disorders formerly attributed to B-cells or macrophages. The cutaneous findings of malignant and malignant behaving hematologic disorders are grouped by the presumed cellular etiology and by the clinical subset of tumor. Clinical and histopathologic features unique to individual disorders are emphasized, as well as those features that may be shared by otherwise quite dissimilar malignancies.