Myelodysplasia cutis and VEXAS syndrome initially diagnosed as histiocytoid Sweet syndrome: A diagnostic pitfall

J Cutan Pathol. 2024 Nov;51(11):834-839. doi: 10.1111/cup.14678. Epub 2024 Jul 12.

Abstract

Histiocytoid Sweet syndrome (H-SS) is a histopathological variant of Sweet syndrome (SS) defined by cutaneous infiltration of immature myeloid cells morphologically resembling histiocytes. The association of H-SS with underlying malignancy, particularly myelodysplastic syndromes, is well-established. Myelodysplasia cutis (MDS-cutis) has been proposed to describe cases historically diagnosed as H-SS but characterized by shared clonality of the myeloid infiltrate in skin and bone marrow. Therefore, identifying patients who might have MDS-cutis is critical for the management of the associated hematologic malignancy. VEXAS syndrome, an adult-onset autoinflammatory disease, should also be included in the histopathologic differential diagnosis of H-SS, as it shares clinical and pathologic features with MDS-cutis. Through the presentation of two cases, we aim to highlight the defining features and key clinical implications of MDS-cutis and VEXAS syndrome.

Keywords: Sweet syndrome; VEXAS syndrome; myelodysplasia cutis; myelodysplastic syndromes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Histiocytes / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes* / diagnosis
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes* / pathology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Sweet Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Sweet Syndrome* / pathology