Histopathology of inflammatory skin disease in oncological patients

The spectrum of cutaneous lesions in oncological patients includes entities encountered in the general population, lesions associated with underlying malignant processes (such as paraneoplastic syndromes) and conditions related to the immunosuppressed status of these patients or their antineoplastic treatment. The paraneoplastic syndromes represent a group of skin conditions that may precede or coexist with the diagnosis of malignancy and may also signal tumour recurrences. In general, there is a high prevalence of immunosuppression in oncological patients, related to the alteration of humoral and cellular immunity or their immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, these patients are especially susceptible to certain infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Correct and early recognition of the cutaneous manifestations in oncological patients provides an important insight into underlying malignant process, possible complications (iatrogenic or not) and prognosis. In this review we offer a practical overview of inflammatory or neoplastic conditions associated with internal malignancies and cutaneous infectious in oncological patients.