Cutaneous alerts in systemic malignancy: part I

Abstract

The aim of this review is to familiarize dermatologists and clinicians in general with cutaneous signs and symptoms that can help lead to an early diagnosis of an underlying malignancy. Because the skin is one of the most accessible organs, it should never be overlooked in systemic disease. Examination of the skin has the advantage of revealing important information about the patient's condition without requiring the use of invasive techniques. In the literature, most discussions of cutaneous manifestations of internal malignancy refer to classic paraneoplastic syndromes, but a wide variety of skin conditions, while not strictly paraneoplastic, can, in certain contexts, indicate the presence of malignancy or an increased risk of developing cancer later in life. In this review, various skin conditions that can signal malignancy or increased cancer risk are presented in randomly ordered groups based on clinical morphology. Conditions with multiple signs and symptoms have been classified on the basis of their most characteristic feature.