Cellulitis with leukocytopenia as an initial sign of acute promyelocytic leukemia

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Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells
06:21

Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells

Published on: November 21, 2018

Sachiko Sakamoto1, Naoki Oiso, Masakatsu Emoto

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.

Case Reports in Dermatology
|April 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cellulitis with leukocytopenia can be an early indicator of acute promyelocytic leukemia in immunosuppressed patients. This finding highlights the importance of considering hematologic malignancy in patients presenting with these symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Hematologic malignancies often cause immunosuppression, increasing infection risk.
  • Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), or acute myeloid leukemia M3, arises from the t(15;17) chromosomal translocation.
  • Infections can be the initial clinical manifestation in patients with compromised immune systems.

Observation:

  • A case study of a 71-year-old male patient is presented.
  • The patient exhibited cellulitis and leukocytopenia.
  • These symptoms were the first signs of an underlying condition.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
  • Cellulitis with leukocytopenia was identified as the presenting sign of APL.
  • This suggests a potential link between these symptoms and the malignancy.

Implications:

  • Dermatologists and hematologists should consider APL in patients with cellulitis and leukocytopenia.
  • Early recognition of this presentation can lead to prompt diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies.
  • This case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing complex patient presentations.

Keywords:
Acute promyelocytic leukemiaCellulitisLeukocytopenia

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