Paraneoplastic rash
Could This Rash Be Malignancy-Related?
A concise clinician guide for rash patterns that may change biopsy, malignancy workup, or inpatient disposition.
Quick answer
Malignancy-Related Rash Concern
- Derm discussion is reasonable when rash pattern suggests CTCL/Sezary, cutaneous metastasis, paraneoplastic pemphigus, dermatomyositis, Bazex syndrome, rapidly changing/nonhealing lesion, or severe unexplained pruritus with systemic clues. *
- Stable routine skin cancer screening is usually outpatient.
- The useful question is whether biopsy site or morphology changes malignancy/systemic workup.
Derm discussion is reasonable when
Higher-Yield Consult Context
- Rapidly changing, bleeding, ulcerated, painful, or nonhealing lesion with inpatient relevance.
- Erythroderma with lymphadenopathy, palm/sole keratoderma, severe pruritus, or CTCL/Sezary concern.
- Severe mucositis with polymorphous eruption in known or suspected malignancy, or rash pattern associated with internal malignancy.
Workup or other service first when
Better First Step
- Routine stable lesion or skin cancer screening without inpatient disposition relevance.
- Known malignancy admission where rash does not change diagnosis, biopsy, or systemic workup.
- Unstable medical issues need stabilization first.
Common pitfall
Keep the Question Specific
Avoid turning this into a broad cancer education page. The clinician-intent page should focus on biopsy, morphology, disposition, and systemic-workup decisions.
FAQ
Clinician Questions
What is the consult question?
Whether Derm can help choose biopsy site, identify a malignancy-associated pattern, or change inpatient malignancy/systemic workup.
When is outpatient enough?
Stable routine lesions and screening questions are usually outpatient unless they change current disposition or urgent workup.
What patterns matter?
CTCL/Sezary concern, paraneoplastic pemphigus, dermatomyositis pattern, cutaneous metastasis, Bazex-like pattern, and rapidly changing or nonhealing lesions.
References
Educational tool only. SIC provides clinician-facing educational consult-triage references. SIC does not diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate disease and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, local guidelines, institutional referral pathways, or recommendations from your dermatology department. See disclaimer.