Sweet's syndrome and malignancy in the U.K

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Hematology

Background:

• Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, or Sweet's syndrome, is a recognized but not fully understood potential marker for underlying malignancy.
• Existing evidence linking Sweet's syndrome to cancer is largely anecdotal, based on case reports and small patient series.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the association between Sweet's syndrome and the development of malignancy.
• To identify common clinical features of Sweet's syndrome that may predict associated cancers.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 87 histologically confirmed cases of Sweet's syndrome across six UK dermatology units.
• Analysis of patient case notes to identify demographic data, clinical features, and subsequent malignancy diagnoses.

Main Results:

• Sixteen percent (14/87) of patients developed associated malignancy, predominantly hematological.
• Patients with malignancy were older (mean 59 vs 49 years), more likely to be anemic, and had lower mean platelet counts.
• Malignancy was diagnosed up to one year after Sweet's syndrome presentation; contrary to prior reports, females showed a higher incidence.

Conclusions:

• Sweet's syndrome is significantly associated with underlying malignancy, particularly hematological types.
• Anemia, low platelet count, and older age are clinical indicators for malignancy in Sweet's syndrome patients.
• The association between Sweet's syndrome and malignancy warrants further investigation, especially regarding gender differences.