Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient with an adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a reaction pattern possibly due to circulating immune complexes. The syndrome may be associated with multiple etiologic agents or diseases. Malignancy, usually lymphoreticular, has been present in rare patients (less than 1%). A man who developed cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis which was resistant to therapy is described. After the discovery and removal of an adenocarcinoma of the colon, his leukocytoclastic vasculitis promptly resolved.