Acral Solitary Nodule as a First Clinical Manifestation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract

Leukemia cutis is a rare cutaneous manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) which mostly occurs in the late stages of the disease. We reported an unusual case of a patient with leukemia cutis that developed before the diagnosis of CLL and mimicked cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). A 52-year-old female presented with an ulcerative nodule on the right forearm. The lesion initially was suspected of being cutaneous leishmaniasis; however, the examination of skin lesion biopsy revealed a dense, diffuse, and monomorphous infiltration of lymphocytes in the dermis. Furthermore, immuno-histochemistry analysis of skin lesion biopsy was indicative of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The result of laboratory tests showed high white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. The results of bone marrow smear, flow cytometric analysis, and computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis were suggestive of CLL/SLL (stage I). This case has clinical implications for early diagnosis and management of CLL/SLL.