Sweet’s syndrome and mucosal prolapse polyps in a male patient with ulcerative colitis

Background Sweet’s syndrome (SS), also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a rare neutrophilic dermatitis characterized by pyrexia, neutrophilia and painful papulonodular lesions with a neutrophilic dermal infiltrate. Case presentation We presented a case report of classical SS associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and mucosal prolapse polyps (MPPs) in a male patient. Conclusions The particularity of this case is the occurrence of MPPs in a male patient with UC and classical SS. We also discussed whether this patient with concurrent Epstein–Barr virus infection could be treated with corticosteroids.

Distinct Characteristics of Sweet’s Syndrome of the Scrotum Caused by All-trans Retinoic Acid in a Patient with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Induction therapy with all-<i>trans</i> retinoic acid (ATRA) is effective for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ATRA induces neutrophil differentiation and its associated side effects. The differentiation syndrome is the most characterized ATRA-induced adverse effect. Sweet’s syndrome, also known as neutrophilic dermatosis, is another form of ATRA-associated disease characterized by neutrophil infiltrating erythema that develops with fever. This is a case of a 34-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with APL. At the onset, the patient did not have skin involvement of APL cells. He was treated with ATRA and induction chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine. Scrotal skin rash occurred at day 14, which developed into scrotal ulceration up to day 28 even after eliminating APL cells in his peripheral blood. Sweet’s syndrome is a pathological diagnosis of scrotal skin ulceration representing neutrophil infiltration. The infiltrating neutrophils showed PML-RARα rearrangement. The patient was diagnosed with ATRA-associated Sweet’s syndrome with skin ulcer. His cutaneous lesion did not respond to intravenous prednisolone therapy; thereby, ATRA was discontinued. After the cessation of ATRA, the skin lesion improved in the next week. We confirmed he achieved a complete response after induction chemotherapy. In our observation, ATRA-associated Sweet’s syndrome is characterized by the following clinical manifestations: preferable occurrence in the scrota, tend to progress into skin ulcer, and pathogenicity associated with PML-RARα-positive matured neutrophils. The etiology, pathogenesis, and risk factors of ATRA-associated scrotal ulceration were discussed in the literature review.

Necrotising Sweet’s syndrome: a rare presentation of Sweet’s syndrome with unilateral painful swelling of the neck

This case describes the first documented clinical presentation of Sweet’s syndrome with unilateral swelling of the neck, severe pain and fever. The clinical and radiological manifestation resembled necrotising fasciitis and the patient underwent acute neck dissection. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with a new subtype of Sweet’s syndrome called necrotising Sweet’s syndrome, and quickly recovered after treatment with intravenous administration of prednisolone.

Diagnosis of Sweet’s syndrome in otolaryngology

Sweet’s syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) consists of acute onset of painful cutaneous erythematous lesions, mostly found in the upper extremities followed by the head and neck region, particularly in patients with underlying malignancies. We describe the case of a woman in her mid-30s, who was treated for acute myeloid leukaemia and presented with a severe painful and progressive erythematous lesion of the retroauricular skin. Clinical features, laboratory tests, blood cultures and histological biopsy yielded a diagnosis of Sweet’s syndrome. The treatment consisted of oral and topical corticosteroids and her signs and symptoms resolved within 1 week. Although Sweet’s syndrome is uncommon, awareness among otolaryngologists is crucial to ensure a prompt diagnosis, cure and referral to an oncologist (if not already involved) for patients with Sweet’s syndrome in the head and neck area.