Leukemia cutis. Fine needle aspiration findings.

OBJECTIVE

To aspirate, for cytologic study, skin nodules from known cases of leukemia during full remission.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of nine leukemia patients in full remission who developed skin nodules on the head, face, chest and upper extremities.

RESULTS

The size of the nodules ranged between 1 and 3.5 cm. The nodules were aspirated with 21-gauge needle. Four were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 1 as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 as acute myeloblastic leukemia, 2 as acute monocytic leukemia and 1 as acute promyelocytic leukemia. Histologic sections were diagnosed as lymphoma-leukemia. The patients developed leukemia again three to four months after excision of the skin nodules.

CONCLUSION

Fine needle aspiration cytology is useful in the diagnosis of leukemia cutis.