Metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in the skin.

Cutaneous metastases secondary to neuroendocrinetumors are rare. Herein we report a case of a 75-yearoldwoman who presented with a rare cutaneousmetastatic disease. She was previously diagnosed withmetastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of unknownprimary, with metastases to liver, lung, and bone.Biopsy of the skin lesion demonstrated archetypicalpathology and positive immunohistochemicalstaining for chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Thepatient started palliative chemo-radiation therapyand passed away soon after.

Lichenoid Dermatologic Toxicity From Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy: A Detailed Examination of the Clinicopathologic Features.

Immunotherapy targeting the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor has demonstrated tremendous promise in the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Dermatologic toxicities, however, are an emerging consequence of this therapy and have been clearly associated with immune checkpoint blockade antibodies. Distinctive clinical and histologic subtypes of dermatologic toxicity secondary to immunotherapy are emerging and include rare autoimmune bullous reactions (eg, bullous pemphigoid) and lichenoid eruptions. We report three patients who developed lichenoid dermatitis while receiving anti-PD-1 antibody therapy. The mean time to onset of lichenoid dermatologic toxicity was 42 days (range: 1-75 days) from initiation of anti-PD-1 antibody therapy. Lesions most frequently presented on the extremities and trunk as pustules, papules, and plaques. The face was not commonly involved. Of the five skin biopsies examined, all demonstrated dense band-like lymphocytic infiltrate, hyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis, saw-tooth rete ridge pattern, and dyskeratosis. Acanthosis was a feature in all of the skin biopsies, and in one, epidermal hyperplasia was prominent. In several skin biopsies, histologic features supporting a lichenoid drug eruption were present, including parakeratosis, spongiosis, periadnexal/perivascular inflammation, and eosinophils. Furthermore, the histologic features varied in skin biopsy specimens taken from the same patient at different sites, supporting a drug reaction. All patients' skin lesions improved with use of steroids: two were treated with topical steroids and one with systemic steroids. Recognition of the histopathologic patterns of dermatologic toxicities resulting from immune checkpoint blockade therapy will become increasingly important for ensuring appropriate management of dermatologic toxicities and optimal patient care.

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium Complex With Cutaneous Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Although most commonly encountered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is becoming more common in patients receiving immunosuppressive medications. Disseminated MAC with skin lesions may occur, and several presentations have been reported, including panniculitis, cutaneous granulomas, pustules, ulcerations, and erythematous skin lesions. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this report is to describe an unusual presentation of MAC that is unlikely to be encountered frequently in the outpatient dermatology setting, especially in a patient without human immunodeficiency virus infection. METHODS: The authors present a case of disseminated MAC infection with cutaneous manifestations in an iatrogenically immunocompromised patient. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of MAC infection is challenging given the varied clinical presentations and the difficulty in culturing MAC. In addition, the acid-fast stain is nonspecific. Clinicians should remember to consider MAC infection in patients with acid-fast-positive skin lesions, as the selection of appropriate antibiotic therapy is species specific.

Case of vemurafenib-induced Sweet's syndrome.

Vemurafenib is a targeted therapy that has become standard treatment for patients with advanced melanoma with a V600E BRAF mutation. It has been associated with frequent skin toxicity, including photosensitivity, rash and squamous cell carcinomas. We present an 83-year-old woman with an advanced V600E BRAF-mutant melanoma who developed a severe skin rash and fatigue after taking vemurafenib. The dose was reduced from 960 to 720 to 480 mg twice a day; however, she was subsequently admitted to the hospital with fever, chills, fatigue, confusion and a diffuse skin eruption. She then developed hypoxia and acute renal failure that required hemodialysis. A biopsy of her skin lesions revealed a neutrophilic dermatitis with papillary dermal edema, consistent with Sweet's syndrome. Her symptoms resolved upon discontinuation of vemurafenib and treatment with prednisone. This constellation of symptoms and clinical course are consistent with drug-induced Sweet's syndrome caused by vemurafenib.

Approach to the morbilliform eruption in the hematopoietic transplant patient.

Morbilliform eruptions occur frequently in the hematopoietic transplant population. The differential diagnosis includes drug reaction, viral exanthem, and cutaneous graft versus host disease. Using a typical patient case, we discuss the diagnostic approach to this clinical problem.

Emerging dermatologic issues in the oncology patient.

The spectrum of skin diseases that occurs in the oncology patient differs somewhat from that seen in other immunosuppressed populations. We review the cutaneous manifestations of invasive mold infections in the leukemia/lymphoma population. Aspergillus mold infections are now the leading infectious cause of death in this population. We also review the pustular eruption caused by a new class of chemotherapy for solid malignancies. An update on cutaneous graft-versus-host disease appears elsewhere in this journal. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas occur more frequently in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma population; this is discussed, as is the more aggressive clinical course of these tumors.

Cutaneous fungal infections in the oncology patient: recognition and management.

There are two main types of fungal infections in the oncology patient: primary cutaneous fungal infections and cutaneous manifestations of fungemia. The main risk factor for all types of fungal infections in the oncology patient is prolonged and severe neutropenia; this is especially true for disseminated fungal infections. Severe neutropenia occurs most often in leukemia and lymphoma patients exposed to high-dose chemotherapy. Fungal infections in cancer patients can be further divided into five groups: (i) superficial dermatophyte infections with little potential for dissemination; (ii) superficial candidiasis; (iii) opportunistic fungal skin infections with distinct potential for dissemination; (iv) fungal sinusitis with cutaneous extension; and (v) cutaneous manifestations of disseminated fungal infections. In the oncology population, dermatophyte infections (i) and superficial candidiasis (ii) have similar presentations to those seen in the immunocompetent host. Primary cutaneous mold infections (iii) are especially caused by Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, and Rhizopus spp. These infections may invade deeper tissues and cause disseminated fungal infections in the neutropenic host. Primary cutaneous mold infections are treated with systemic antifungal therapy and sometimes with debridement. The role of debridement in the severely neutropenic patient is unclear. In some patients with an invasive fungal sinusitis (iv) there may be direct extension to the overlying skin, causing a fungal cellulitis of the face. Aspergillus, Rhizopus, and Mucor spp. are the most common causes. We also describe the cutaneous manifestations of disseminated fungal infections (v). These infections usually occur in the setting of prolonged neutropenia. The most common causes are Candida, Aspergillus, and Fusarium spp. Therapy is with systemic antifungal therapy. The relative efficacies of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and caspofungin are discussed. Recovery from disseminated fungal infections is unlikely, however, unless the patient's neutropenia resolves.

Invasive cutaneous fungal infections requiring radical resection in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Invasive fungal infections have emerged as a significant problem in patients with cancer with the development of better systemic therapies for malignancy and more effective antibacterial agents. The currently available world published medical literature was reviewed on invasive fungal infections in cancer patients with specific attention devoted to the multidisciplinary role of surgery in refractory cutaneous cases. Infections can develop on the forearm where peripheral intravenous catheters had been inserted in cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. Curative intent begins with systemic contemporary anti-fungal therapy. Following resolution of neutropenia, patients may require radical surgical debridement with negative margins of resection for complete eradication of the fungal infection. Although invasive fungal infections refractory to antifungal systemic therapy in immunocompromised patients undergoing chemotherapy are a rare event, it is critical for surgeons and other multidisciplinary clinicians to recognize these potentially life-threatening infections that may necessitate radical surgical resection for cure.

Skin lesions associated with Fusarium infection.

Infections caused by Fusarium species are increasing in frequency among immunocompromised hosts. We identified 35 patients with cancer who had Fusarium skin lesions. Twenty patients had disseminated infection, 6 had primary localized skin infections, 4 had skin lesions associated with sinus infections, and 5 had onychomycosis. All patients (except 3 with onychomycosis) had hematologic malignancies and neutropenia. Skin lesions associated with disseminated infection included red or gray macules, papules (some with central necrosis or eschar), pustules, and subcutaneous nodules. Most patients had a variety of lesions simultaneously. Multiple red or gray macules with central ulceration or black eschar are characteristic of Fusarium infection. Disseminated infection may originate from skin lesions or onychomycosis. Most infections fail to respond to antifungal therapy unless there is resolution of the patient's neutropenia.