title: Predictive clinical features of eczema craquelé associated with internal malignancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a series of hospitalized patients with eczema craquelé (EC) and the possible correlations between clinical features of EC and cancer in an open prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 68 consecutive patients included between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2000 who were followed up through December 2004. All patients who had localized or generalized EC were included. Patients underwent complete clinical examinations, routine laboratory tests, chest x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and cutaneous biopsies performed on EC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of EC associated with cancer, clinical features of eczema, rate of recalcitrant eczema, relationship to other clinical prognostic factors, and paraneoplastic evolution were evaluated. Cancer was diagnosed in 32 patients (47%). We observed a significant difference in the presenting clinical signs of EC between patients with malignant tumors and patients without cancer. In patients with malignancies, EC was widespread on the trunk and we noted deep red and inflammatory fissures. In all cases, EC led to the discovery of malignancy or recurrence of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Widespread EC, topical corticosteroid resistance, and deep red and inflammatory fissures were significantly correlated with neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dupuytren University Hospital, Limoges, France. a.sparsa@free.fr
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sparsa
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boulinguez
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liozon
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: Itzia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peyrot
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Doffoel-Hantz
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labrousse
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bordessoule
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bonnetblanc
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bédane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011536:Prurigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis