AMYLOIDOSIS AND NEOPLASIA

Amyloidosis is not a single disease. The term amyloid refers to many b iochemically different fibrillar deposits that share the amyloid P (pl asma) component, tinctorial properties, and morphologic features.1 Dis tinct clinical entities are usually associated with these different ty pes of amyloid and can be divided into systemic and cutaneous forms (T able 1). Primary amyloidosis, both systemic and cutaneous, involves th e skin in association with neoplasia.1,2 Primary amyloidosis is divide d into idiopathic and myeloma associated. Secondary systemic amyloidos is, on the other hand, is most frequently secondary to chronic inflamm atory diseases and rarely to neoplasia.2-4 Although a few exceptions e xist, secondary systemic amyloidosis usually involves parenchymal orga ns and generally does not show cutaneous features.5,6