[Cutaneous involvement in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia--a possible indicator for transition into acute leucaemia]

A 83-year old patient with "myelodysplastic / myeloproliferative neoplasia", type chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), presented at our clinic with an intermittent bleeding, growing tumour located at the glabella. The tumour occurred after a trauma, and thus the suspected diagnosis was pyogenic granuloma. In the context of outpatient care, a severe and persistent bleeding occurred, so that the patient was hospitalized. EXAMINATIONS AND DIAGNOSES: Histopathological analyses of the excized tumour nodule revealed specific cutaneous leukemic infiltrates. Laboratory check-up showed thrombocytopenia with thrombocytopathy and hypofibrinogenaemia.

Despite appropriate intraoperative hemostasis, sustained post-treatment bleeding occurred, necessitating the application of several erythrocyte concentrates as well as substitution of prothrombin, fibrinogen, and factor XIII. After stationary dismissal, the patient experienced a transition into acute myelomonocytic leukemia and died a short time thereafter.

Skin lesions are frequent in "myelodysplastic / myeloproliferative neoplasias" and myelodysplastic syndromes. Specific cutaneous infiltrates associated with CMML may be a clinical indicator for a transition into acute leukemia.