Cutaneous Manifestations of Pediatric Hematological Malignancies: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Malignancies in the pediatric population can cause significant morbidity and mortality in the affected individual. Hematological malignancies are the most common type of cancer in children. Moreover, its incidence has drastically increased due to genetic alterations or environmental exposure to several carcinogens. Cutaneous manifestations, although rare, may be the sole presentation and may precede, follow or occur simultaneously with the primary disease. Hence, it is important to be aware about the varied morphology, distribution, and evolution of the lesions for prompt diagnosis and treatment. However, there is a paucity of the literature in the pediatric population. The objective of the review is to enumerate the different cutaneous symptoms and signs of hematological malignancies due to the primary disease, chemotherapy, and stem-cell transplantation in children.