[Gastroenterology and dermatology - nosologic and differential diagnostic overlap]

Many inflammatory or malignant diseases of the alimentary tract are either associated with distinct dermal diseases or followed by skin lesions secondary to the underlying systemic disease. Some dermal disorders are of diagnostic significance as to hepatic or gastrointestinal maladies, or represent distinct paraneoplastic syndromes of the skin. Therefore, even minor lesions of the skin or oral mucosa, when arising before, or at, or after the onset of alimentary tract disorders, should carefully be examined with regard to the possibility of representing an important diagnostic clue elucidating clinically the kind of underlying disease.