Neoplastic/ Paraneoplastic Dermatitis, Fasciitis, and Panniculitis

Changes of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat can occur in the setting of internal malignancy. When a particular cutaneous disorder is strongly associated with, and parallels the course of, the internal malignancy, it is considered a paraneoplastic dermatosis. Recognizing such cutaneous clues may lead to early identification of the underlying malignancy, because the skin findings often precede the diagnosis of malignancy. This article discusses several characteristic skin presentations associated with internal malignancy. These disorders are organized into superficial (changes of the epidermis and dermis) and deep (changes of the fat and fascia) dermatoses.