The Skin as an Early Expression of Malignancies in the Neonatal Age: A Review of the Literature and a Case Series

Abstract

Skin lesions are a frequent finding in childhood, from infancy throughout adolescence. They can arise from many conditions, including infections and inflammation. Most neonatal rashes are benign and self-limiting and require no treatment. Other conditions may be an expression of malignancy or may be a marker for other abnormalities, such as neural tube defects. Therefore, skin lesions require an extensive evaluation and close follow-up to ensure the best possible outcome. This paper briefly reviews the main tumor types presenting with cutaneous involvement in neonates, followed by the description of some patients admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with an early skin expression of malignancies.

Acute monocytic leukemia presenting as generalized lymphadenopathy and skin rash in a toddler: highlighting the clinicopathologic mimics

“…The skin, in neonates, can show involvement as an early expression of malignancies like leukemias, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant rhabdoid tumor and Langerhans cell histiocytosis 9 . Leukemia cutis (LC) is the term used to indicate infiltration of neoplastic blasts into the epidermis, the dermis, or the subcutis, resulting in clinically identifiable cutaneous lesions.…”

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Presenting in Association With Neuroblastoma: A Case Report

“…Neuroblastoma is a tumor of primitive neuroblasts of the embryonic neural crest, occurring anywhere along the sympathetic nervous system with a primary site often in the adrenal medulla. Rare cases of metastatic cutaneous lesions of neuroblastoma are noted in the literature and are typically associated with neonatal or infantile neuroblastoma (16). Symptoms of neuroblastoma may include abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, nausea, and bone pain among others.…”

Blueberry Muffin Baby: An Unusual Presentation of Infantile Neuroblastoma

“…[2,4] Stage 4-S neuroblastoma is characterized by metastases confined to skin, liver, and bone marrow in infants younger than 1 year but no distant osseous metastasis. [6] Blueberry muffin baby is the morphologic term used to describe the appearance of nonblanching, bluish nodules in young babies. These eruptions are often generalized but favors the trunk, head, and neck.…”