CASE REPORTS   

Esperienze Dermatologiche 2011 September;13(3):119-22

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Paraneoplastic Sweet’s syndrome

Pini M. ¹, Balice Y. ², Tavecchio S. ², Crippa D. ¹

¹ U.O.S.C. di Dermatologia, A.O. San Gerardo, Monza, Università degli Studi Milano Bicocca, Milano; ² U.O. Dermatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano

Sweet’s syndrome, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is an uncommon skin disease characterized by the dramatic onset of recurrent, painful plaque-forming inflammatory papules. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial and there is no known cause of the disease. It typically manifests itself with violaceous papulo-nodular lesions, marked edema and pain. The most common sites are the face, neck and upper and lower limbs. It is often accompanied or preceded by influenza-like illness, arthralgia, tendinitis and myalgia. Laboratory results usually show increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and leukocytosis with neutrophilia. The diagnosis is clinical and sustained by histologic findings. The treatment of choice is systemic steroid therapy with excellent results, although recurrence is possible.