Congenital leukemia initially presenting with leukemia cutis

Abstract

Introduction: Congenital leukemia represents less than 1% of childhood leukemia. Its prognosis is poor. Myeloid form is the most common type, and leukemia cutis has been observed in 25-30% of the patients. These skin lesions are defined as 'blueberry muffin' type which are blue-violaceous and usually multiple and diffuse nodules.Case Report: She had diffuse blue-violaceous nodules since birth. She hospitalized due to sepsis for 35 days. She was referred to our center with the suspicion of immune deficiency. The initial physical findings were severe pallor, diffuse blue-violaceous subcutanose nodules and hepatosplenomegaly. The leucocyte count was found 363 000/mm(3). Acute monositer leukemia (AML-M5) was determined with morphologic and flow cytometric evaluation of the peripheral blood.Conclusion: Congenital leukemia must be thought in differential diagnosis from other underlying disease presenting with blueberry muffin skin lesions.