Sweet's syndrome and erythema nodosum - The simultaneous occurrence of 2 reactive dermatoses

Background: The simultaneous occurrence of Sweet's syndrome (SS) and erythe ma nodosum (EN) in 1 patient is rare. Our review of the literature revealed only II biopsy-proved cases in which the 2 reactive dermatoses occurred to gether. None were associated with an underlying malignant neoplasm. Observations: We report a biopsy-proved case of SS and EN occurring simulta neously in a patient with an underlying malignant neoplasm (specifically, a cute myelogenous leukemia). We also report another biopsy-proved case of SS and EN occurring simultaneously in a patient with underlying Crohn's disea se. Conclusions: The simultaneous occurrence of SS and EN in 1 patient is rarel y reported. Both disorders are reactive dermatoses that share many overlapp ing features. Although individually distinctive, SS and EN are also part of a growing continuum of reactive dermatoses. Our expanded understanding of the similarities and simultaneous manifestation of SS and EN may help us in the future to identify a common underlying mechanism of pathogenesis.