MULTIPLE CARCINOMAS OF THE SKIN AND CHRON IC LYMPHATIC-LEUKEMIA

Introduction. Skin cancer occurs more readily in more aggressive forme s in immunodepressed subjects. We report the case of a patient with ch ronic lymphoid leukaemia and multiple skin carcinomas complicated with carcinomatous lymphagitis. Case report. A 63 year-old man with chroni c lymphoid leukaemia, stage A in the Binet classification, had multipl e epidermoid carcinomas on the trunk and face. The skin tumours were c omplicated with cervical lymph mode metastases, then a prethoracic car cinomatous lymphangitis with a rapidly fatal clinical course. Discussi on. Chronic lymphoid leukaemia and lymphomas are associated with a hig h incidence of skin carcinoma. The immuno-depression inherent in the h aematologic disease would appear to favor aggressive skin cancers. Our case was particularly severe since the carcinomatous lymphangitis was rapidly fatal.