Leukemia Cutis of the Scalp Masquerading as Kerion in a Child

    January 2023 in “ Indian dermatology online journal ”
    Raghavendra Rao, Lavin Bhatia, PallaviKrishna Hegde, VarshaM Shetty, Vishwapriya Godkandi
    TLDR Leukemia can sometimes appear as unusual skin issues in children.
    An 8-year-old boy presented with crusted scalp lesions and alopecia, initially misdiagnosed as kerion. Despite treatment with antibiotics and antifungals, his condition worsened, showing yellowish crusted plaques, alopecia, cervical lymphadenopathy, and scrotal swelling. Hematological tests revealed anemia, elevated ESR, and blast cells. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed leukemia cutis (LC) with Pre-B acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). This case highlights the importance of thorough examination in children with alopecia, as LC can be an initial manifestation of systemic leukemia.
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