A Case of Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia with Bullous, Haemorrhagic and Necrotic Skin Lesions

Abstract

Erythematous-oedematous-bullous skin lesions with necrotic vegetating and haemorrhagic evolution evocating atypical pemphigus or bullous reticulosis, revealed acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Histologically, vesicles and bullae were observed in the Malpighian layer and a dense infiltrate with atypical blasts in the dermis. Atypical promyelocytes (22%) were found in the bone marrow. The cytochemical features of promyelocytes, haemorrhage due to disseminated intravascular coagulation supported the diagnosis.