Search

Gastrointestinal tumors are among the most common neoplastic causes of death worldwide. Presence of characteristic skin lesions can allow faster diagnosis and therapy and this way can increase the probability of a cure. In the paper we present the most important paraneoplastic syndromes that can coexist with gastrointestinal malignancy including colon, gastric, esophagus and pancreatic cancers. We take into account genetic syndromes such as Cowden syndrome, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM) (melanoma/pancreatic cancer), Clarke Howel-Evans, Peutz-Jeghers, Muir-Torre, Gardner syndromes and acquired syndromes such as acantosis nigricans maligna, tripe palms, Leser-Trelat, Bazex, hypertrichosis languinosa, erythema gyratum repens, carcinoid and glucagonoma syndrome. We also include cutaneous metastases and coexistence of neoplasia in some cases of dermatomyositis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition of skin changes connected with neoplasm is important because it allows early treatment of the disease. Necrolytic migratory erythema is a paraneoplastic marker which in 80% of cases shows the presence of pancreatic cancer, originating from alpha cells which produce glucagon. The presence of the neoplasm is connected with weight loss, erythematous and vesicular skin changes of limbs, trunk and face as well as glossitis, cheilitis, diffuse alopecia and paronychia. There is usually mild diabetes with markedly increased level of glucagon, lower level of amino acids and zinc in the sera, anemia and increased sedimentation rate. In 42-year-old male patient erythematous skin changes, pustules, erosions and ecchymoses appeared 2 years ago and were localized on his face, trunk, genitalia and limbs. At first the diagnosis of disseminated eczema were made. After 2 years, on abdominal ultrasound examination metastases to liver were found and during laparotomy tuberous changes of pancreas were observed. The histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]