Erythema ab igne: an unusual manifestation of cancer-related pain

We report two patients with truncal erythema ab igne who were subsequently diagnosed as having an underlying malignancy. The skin changes were due to repeated heat applications for pain relief. Although erythema ab igne: is f requently seen on the anterior lower limbs of elderly people, it may be an indicator of organic disease when present in a central location in young pa tients. (C) 2000 international Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.