Multiple Skin Cancers in a Patient Within 1 Year of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

    Ritva Vyas, Erica Gotow, Jennifer L. DePry, Hillard M. Lazarus, Paolo Caimi, Jeremy S. Bordeaux, Meg R. Gerstenblith
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    TLDR A man got six skin cancers within a year after a cell transplant for leukemia but was cancer-free 32 months later; skin checks are important post-transplant.
    The document described a 44-year-old male who developed six skin cancers, including melanomas and basal cell carcinomas, within 13 months after undergoing an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Despite the skin cancers, he was in complete clinical remission 32 months post-transplant without chronic graft-versus-host disease. The case highlighted the increased risk of secondary skin malignancies post-transplant and underscored the need for early dermatological assessment, preventive care, and annual skin examinations starting 6 months after the transplant for patients with CLL. Additionally, the document mentioned anagen effluvium as an unusual side effect of azathioprine in two female patients, characterized by sudden hair loss during the growth phase.
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