Coexistence of malignancies with bullous pemphigoid.

To the Editor.— The relationship of bullous pemphigoid to malignancy is still a controversial problem in spite of multiple reported cases. Some authors regard the association as a real one, 1,2 and others regard it as merely a fortuitous coexistence, 3,5 while still others point to a significantly higher incidence of malignancies in cases of pemphigoid in which the patients have low titers or no detectable serum antibody to the basement membrane zone. 6 Therefore, we have made an analysis of cases of bullous pemphigoid seen in our department during the period of 1968 to 1977. Malignant tumors were found in 12 of 110 (11%) cases of bullous pemphigoid, with six in 54 women and six in 56 men. These tumors included four breast cancers, two cancers of the prostate, two lymphoreticular malignancies, and one malignant tumor of each of the following tissues: lung, thyroid, larynx, and skin. In addition