Don’t Forget the Skin: 4 Common Dermatologic Manifestations of Internal Malignancy

Reid A Waldman and Steven D Wa

Abstract

The skin is a unique marker for malignancy as these cutaneous manifestation not only often precede the development of other symptoms, but also often cause patients to seek medical attention sooner than they would for other symptoms. Common cutaneous markers for malignancy include: acanthosis nigricans, carcinoid syndrome, Leser-Trelat sign, and necrolytic migratory erythema. Although these skin signs can also be associated with benign disease, the clinician should have a low threshold for carefully evaluating patients with a cutaneous complaint for underlying systemic disease, as these signs are often harbingers of underlying malignancy.