[Relationship between digital necrosis of the upper limbs and malignant conditions (author's transl)]

The authors report six new cases of necrosis of the fingers occurring during the course of a malignant condition. None of the patient was suffering from any other disease which could explain the digital necrosis. They discuss the mechanism of the relationship between the two conditions : blood hyperviscosity, thrombocytosis, polycythaemia, cryoglobulin and the production of immune complexes. The particular role of bleomycin is mentioned. The possibility of a true paraneoplastic syndrome is suggested.