title: Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukaemia revealed by specific cutaneous lesions.
abstract: Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML-MO) is a poorly differentiated type of acute myeloid leukaemia. Its myeloid differentiation can only be demonstrated by the immunohistochemical or ultrastructural finding of cytoplasmic myeloperoxidase in bone marrow blasts and/or by the immunohistochemical expression of at least one lineage-specific myeloid antigen, with no reactivity for lymphoid antigens. We describe a man with a cutaneous nodular eruption that represented the first clinical manifestation of AML-MO. Histological examination showed extensive proliferation of blasts with scant basophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, these expressed neither myeloid nor lymphoid-specific antigens, whereas they were focally positive for CD45. The diagnosis of AML-MO was confirmed by immunophenotypic analysis of a bone marrow smear. A complete remission was achieved following parenteral steroid therapy. The disease relapsed some months later, and the patient died within a few weeks.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Istituto Dermopatico dell' Immacolata, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annessi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Signoretti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simoni
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000473:pathology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens