Leukemia cutis. Fine needle aspiration findings

OBJECTIVE: To aspirate, for cytologic study, skin nodules from known cases of leukemia during full remission. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of nine leukemia patients in full remission who developed skin nodules on the head, face, chest and upper extremities. RESULTS: The size of the nodules ranged between 1 and 3.5 cm. The nodules were aspirated with 21-gauge needle. Four were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 1 as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 as acute myeloblastic leukemia, 2 as acute monocytic leukemia and 1 as acute promyelocytic leukemia. Histologic sections were diagnosed as lymphoma-leukemia. The patients developed leukemia again three to four months after excision of the skin nodules. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is useful in the diagnosis of leukemia cutis.