The Emerging Role of Oncodermatology in a Hemato-Oncology Unit in a Tertiary Hospital

Our dermatology department consistently receives the largest proportion of internal on-call referrals from the Hematology-Oncology Department. Individuals with hematological malignancies are particularly susceptible to dermatologic conditions secondary to immunosuppression and multi-agent exposure, which can impact cancer therapy, leading to morbidity and mortality.

Our primary objective was to analyze the range of dermatologic conditions observed in patients with hematologic malignancies and to identify potential associations with anticancer therapies. We conducted a retrospective, single-center review of acute hematology-oncology referrals to our on-call service between August 2020 and November 2022. Consultations were identified retrospectively through the on-call referral log.

One hundred and thirty-four (134) patients were included. The most common diagnoses were cutaneous adverse drug eruptions (22%), leukemia or lymphoma cutis (13%), infections (13%), and acneiform eruptions (10%). Notably, cutaneous drug reactions were more prevalent in patients with myeloid neoplasms (32%). Acneiform eruptions predominantly occurred in patients with myeloid lineage malignancies.

Dermatology plays a vital role in providing consultative services to patients with hematology-oncology conditions. With the emergence of novel therapies, the landscape of dermatologic complications in this population is evolving. Consequently, the demand for dermatology expertise is expected to increase to facilitate prompt diagnosis and management and to ensure optimal patient outcomes.