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Home » Topics A–Z » Cutaneous markers of internal malignancy
Author: Vanessa Ngan, Staff Writer, 2004. Updated by Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, January 2016.
Skin changes can often be the first sign of a deeper problem including an internal malignancy. Signs of skin disease may precede, occur with, or follow the detection of associated cancer. These skin diseases can be a feature of undiagnosed cancer and may be the prompt for a thorough examination in patients. Or in a patient whose cancer is in remission, these skin diseases may be the initial sign of cancer recurring.
Cutaneous markers can be classified into 2 major types:
Skin diseases that come under the group of genodermatoses include:
Cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes can be categorised according to the type of lesion they produce.
Papulosquamous
Erythematous
Bullous
Miscellaneous
As well as cutaneous signs and symptoms, paraneoplastic syndromes may affect endocrine, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, haematological, gastrointestinal or renal function.
Paraneoplastic symptoms may be caused by:
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