A retrospective analysis of dermatological problems in a hematology ward

Figures & data

Table 1 Underlying hematological diagnoses

Hematological condition	Number of cases (%)
Myeloid neoplasms
Acute myeloid leukemia	19 (32.76%)
Acute biphenotypic leukemia	1 (1.72%)
Myeloproliferative disease	6 (10.35%)
Myelodysplastic disease	3 (5.17%)
Lymphoid neoplasms
B-cell neoplasms	12 (20.69%)
T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms	4 (6.90%)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia	4 (6.90%)
Hodgkin lymphoma	1 (1.72%)
Lymphoma (unclassified)	1 (1.72%)
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD)	1 (1.72%)
Hypereosinophilic syndrome	1 (1.72%)
Amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia	1 (1.72%)
Medullary glioma	1 (1.72%)
Others (anemia, thrombocytopenia, infectious mononucleosis)	3 (5.17%)
Total	58 (100%)

Abbreviation: NK, natural killer.

Table 2 Dermatologic conditions diagnosed in hematology inpatients

Dermatological condition	Number of cases (%)
Primary dermatological disease	26 (43.33%)
Eczematous dermatitis	8 (13.33%)
Asteatotic eczema	2 (3.33%)
Contact dermatitis	2 (3.33%)
Eczematous dermatitis, unspecified	1 (1.67%)
Nummular eczema	1 (1.67%)
Seborrhoeic dermatitis	2 (3.33%)
Infective disorders	9 (15.00%)
Cutaneous candidiasis	1 (1.67%)
Ecthyma gangrenosum	2 (3.33%)
Furunculosis, multiple	1 (1.67%)
Herpes labialis	3 (5.00%)
Infective mononucleosis	1 (1.67%)
Pityriasis vesicolor	1 (1.67%)
Others	9 (15.00%)
Chronic urticaria	1 (1.67%)
Lipoma	1 (1.67%)
Neutrophilic dermatosis	1 (1.67%)
Prurigo nodularis	1 (1.67%)
Psoriasis	1 (1.67%)
Steroid acne	2 (3.33%)
Arthropod bite reaction	1 (1.67%)
Seborrhoeic keratosis	1 (1.67%)
Hematologic disorders	4 (6.67%)
Petechiae and purpura	4 (6.67%)
Toxic erythema of chemotherapy (TEC)	6 (10.00%)
Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis	1 (1.67%)
Palmar-plantar erythema	2 (3.33%)
TEC, unspecified	3 (5.00%)
Cutaneous adverse drug reaction	10 (16.67%)
Exanthem	9 (15.00)
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap	1 (1.67%)
TEC versus drug exanthem	4 (6.67%)
Viral versus drug-related exanthem	2 (3.33%)
Cutaneous adverse effects of EGFR inhibitors	1 (1.67%)
Lymphoma cutis	1 (1.67%)
Unknown	6 (10.00%)
Total	60 (100%)

Abbreviation: EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor.

Table 3 Characteristics of cases of TEC and drug exanthem

	Palmar-plantar erythema (n = 2)	TEC (n = 4)	Drug exanthem (n = 9)	TEC vs drug exanthem (n = 4)
Mean age in years	31.0 (range 19–43)	47.5 (range 35–59)	62.6 (range 46–85)	56.3 (range 52–62)
Male:female ratio	1:1	3:1	6:3	1:3
Mean duration between chemotherapy and onset of rash	29*	9.5 days (range 3–23)	16.8 days (range 4–24)**	11.5 days (range 2–20)
Presence of neutropenia at time of rash	1/2	3/4	6/8***	3/4
Intensity of itch
None	2	2	1	2
Mild	–	2	2	2
Moderate	–	–	–	–
Severe	–	–	2	–
Unspecified	–	–	4	–
Mean number of drugs at onset of rash	NA	8 (range 6–10)	6.7 (range 3–15)	8.5 (range 5–15)

Notes:

* Data available only from 1 patient;

** data available only for 6 patients;

*** data available only for 8 patients.

Abbreviations: NA, not available; TEC, toxic erythema of chemotherapy.