Cutaneous manifestations of internal malignant disease.

The skin can provide clues to the well-being of our patients. Some skin changes, such as hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita or erythema gyratum repens, are so specific that there is a virtual certainty of internal malignancy. Other changes, such as severe pruritus, are significant management problems in late-stage lymphoma and leukemia. Still others, such as herpes zoster in a cancer patient in remission, may be a marker for recurrent malignant disease. This review will discuss many of the skin changes associated with systemic cancer.