[Necrolytic migratory erythema: glucagonoma syndrome. Clinical and histological aspects]

The author reviews a personal and other reported cases of necrolytic migratory erythema, a useful marker of glucagon-secreting islet cell tumours of the pancreas. The lesions extend and migrate as the centres form either a bulla or a parakeratotic crust. The eruption involves particularly the body folds, feet and thighs; evolves in waves. The tongue may be smooth and firey red. Histologically, the striking feature is an eosinophilic degeneration and death of the upper part of the epidermis. Ablation of the tumour is followed by cure of the rash but in many cases the presence of metastases makes cure impossible. The exact cause of the eruption remains unknown.