Cutaneous changes in patients with internal malignancies

• Main Authors: Selma Bakar Dertlioğlu, Betül Demir, Aziz Karaoğlu, Haydar Uçak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2013-12-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Internal malignancy; skin lesions; cutaneous metastasis
• Online Access: http://www.diclemedj.org/upload/sayi/29/Dicle%20Med%20J-01836.pdf

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate skinfindings in patients with internal malignancy and highlightthe primary skin problems in these cases.Methods: In this study, the findings of cutaneous of 200patients, hospitalized in the Department of Oncology FıratUniversity Hospital, were evaluated. The medical historiesprovided by the patients were recorded, comprehensivecutaneous and systemic examinations were performed,and clinical photos were taken. When considered necessary,skin biopsy and scrapings for fungal infections werecollected, while all the cutaneous metastatic lesions wereconfirmed by histopathology.Results: Among the 200 inpatients with internal malignancywho were admitted to the Department of Oncology,88 (44%) were female and 112 (56%) were male.Eighty-three patients (41.5%) had hair findings, whilehair involvement was found to have a significant relationshipwith chemotherapy (p=0.001), number of cycles(p=0.001), and radiotherapy (p=0.04). As 119 patients(59.5%) exhibited nail findings, nail involvement wasfound to be linked with chemotherapy (p=0.001) andnumber of cycles (p=0.05). Oral mucosa involvement wasobserved in 100 patients (50%) and palmoplantar involvementwas determined in 132 patients (66%); both weresignificantly associated with chemotherapy (p<0.05).Conclusion: As well as skin metastases, internal malignancycases accompany with many hair, nail, skin, andmucosal findings, which are significantly associated withchemotherapy and the number of its cycles.Key words: Internal malignancy, skin lesions, cutaneous metastasis