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Sweet syndrome in patients with solid tumors
P R Cohen1, W R Holder, S B Tucker
1Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston 77030.
Cancer
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Sweet syndrome, a skin condition, can signal underlying solid tumors, particularly in the genitourinary, breast, and gastrointestinal tracts. Early detection of cancer is crucial in patients presenting with this dermatosis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Sweet syndrome, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a rare inflammatory condition.
- It can manifest as a paraneoplastic syndrome, indicating an underlying malignancy.
- While often linked to hematologic cancers, its association with solid tumors is increasingly recognized.
Observation:
- This study details two cases of malignancy-associated Sweet syndrome.
- One patient developed Sweet syndrome preceding adenocarcinoma diagnosis; another had recurrent laryngeal cancer discovered after Sweet syndrome onset.
- A review of 39 published cases of solid tumor-associated Sweet syndrome was conducted.
Findings:
- The most frequent associated solid tumors were genitourinary (37%), breast (23%), and gastrointestinal (17%) carcinomas.
- Common clinical and laboratory findings included tender erythematous plaques, elevated ESR, anemia, fever, and neutrophilia.
- In 61% of cases, Sweet syndrome preceded cancer diagnosis or recurrence; in 39%, it followed tumor development.
Implications:
- Evaluating patients with Sweet syndrome for solid tumors, especially genitourinary, breast, or gastrointestinal cancers, is critical.
- Prompt investigation can lead to earlier cancer diagnosis and potentially improved patient outcomes.
- This highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing Sweet syndrome.