Acitretin amelioration of Acrokeratosis Paraneoplastica (Bazex Syndrome) in cases of incurable squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx.

BACKGROUNDAcrokeratosis paraneoplastica (Bazex Syndrome) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome and dermatosis that only arises in patients with underlying malignancy and uncommonly resolves with systemic therapy.OBJECTIVE/METHODSWe present a patient with acrokeratosis paraneoplastica that improved significantly with acitretin. We present evidence to justify costs of therapy for insurance purposes. Additionally, there is a single report of acitretin use for Bazex syndrome in the French language.RESULTSWe present a case of acrokeratosis paraneoplastica in a patient with incurable stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx that significantly improved on acitretin.CONCLUSIONAlthough acrokeratosis paraneoplastica most often is cured by treatment of the underlying squamous cell carcinoma, this case highlights the potential benefit of early initiation of acitretin during malignancy work up and staging. This therapy may also be valuable for patients in which the primary malignancy is unresectable or incurable.