Erythema gyratum repens and acquired ichthyosis associated with transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney

• Published in: Clinical and experimental dermatology Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 510 - 512
• Main Authors: Ameen, M., Chopra, S., Darvay, A., Acland, K., Chu, A. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-09-2001; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - complications; Erythema - etiology; Humans; Ichthyosis - etiology; Kidney Neoplasms - complications; Kidneys; Leg Dermatoses - etiology; Male; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - complications; Thorax; Tumors of the urinary system; Human; Dyskeratosis; Skin disease; Urinary system disease; Hyperkeratosis; Malignant tumor; Transitional cell carcinoma; Erythema gyratum repens; Kidney; Ichthyosis; Case study; Paraneoplastic syndrome; Elderly
• ISSN: 0307-6938; 1365-2230
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2001.00879.x

Both erythema gyratum repens (EGR) and acquired ichthyosis are distinctive dermatoses which have strong associations with internal malignancy. EGR usually precedes the diagnosis of malignancy whereas acquired ichthyosis commonly manifests after the detection of malignancy. We report a patient who initially presented with a figurate eruption of EGR which later developed into a widespread ichthyosis with disappearance of the serpiginous rash. Further investigations revealed an underlying transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney, an association which has not previously been reported with either EGR or acquired ichthyosis. The occurrence of two paraneoplastic skin disorders in the same patient may be explained by tumour cell secretion of transforming growth factor alpha, which has been shown to be mitogenic for keratinocytes.