[Does paraneoplastic porphyria cutanea tarda exist?]

Our investigations in 134 patients showed corresponding to literature porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) diagnosed by biochemical methods not to be a paraneoplastic dermatosis (but one possible exception acquainted). Relations between PCT and extrahepatic non-porphyrin producing tumours are improbable. Nevertheless but extremely seldom an irregular urinary porphyrin excretion associated with cutaneous changes of hepatic porphyria should lead to the presumption of a porphyrin producing hepatoma. PCT lasting for decades apparently presents a higher frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis than in cirrhotics without PCT. It is supposed that this possible progredience of liver disease in PCT into hepatocellular carcinoma may be prevented by chloroquine phosphate therapy.