Cutis

Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is an uncommon skin eruption of unclear etiology that most often is associated with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal insufficiency. There are rare reports of APD in association with liver disease or thyroid disease. We report a case of APD in a patient with both primary biliary cirrhosis and Hashimoto thyroiditis in the absence of diabetes mellitus and chronic renal insufficiency. The patient had a partial response to narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Case Report
A 47-year-old woman with a history of primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis presented with a skin eruption of 4 years' duration. The patient stated that her skin felt pruritic overall, but the lesions had a painful quality. She could not identify any exacerbating or remitting factors. Her medications included prednisone 5 mg daily for rheumatoid arthritis and occasional propoxyphene for pain and zolpidem tartrate for insomnia. She had no personal or family history of diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, or similar skin disorders. On physical examination, the patient demonstrated mild scleral icterus. Her skin had a diffuse eruption of erythematous hyperkeratotic papules over the trunk and extremities. Several of these papules appeared excoriated and others appeared to have a central hyperkeratotic crust and hyperpigmented scarring (Figure 1).

Laboratory studies disclosed the following values: alanine aminotransferase, 122 U/L (reference range, 5–50 U/L); aspartate aminotransferase, 95 U/L (reference range, 15–50 U/L); alkaline phosphatase, 603 U/L (reference range, 35–110 U/L); total bilirubin, 6.4 mg/dL (reference range, 0.2–1.5 mg/dL); serum creatinine, 0.6 mg/dL (reference range, 0.7–1.2 mg/dL); and hemoglobin A1c, 4.2% (reference range, 4.4%–5.9%). The patient had a positive antinuclear antibody titer of 1:80 (reference range, <1:40) in a homogenous staining pattern. Her viral hepatitis infection serologies and antismooth muscle antibody titers were all negative. Additionally, her antimitochondrial antibody titers were positive, 1:160 (reference range, <1:20); thyrotropin levels were increased, 10.3 mIU/L (reference range, 0.3–4.7 mIU/L); and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were elevated, 14.8 IU/mL (reference range, <2.0 IU/mL).

Results of a liver biopsy demonstrated biliary injury and loss, with bridging fibrosis, consistent with stage III primary biliary cirrhosis. Results of a skin punch biopsy were remarkable for hyperkeratosis, epidermal acanthosis, and a channel filled with neutrophils and both eosinophilic and basophilic staining debris traversing the epidermis (Figure 2). A chronic infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and neutrophils was present at the base of the transepidermal channel. Results of a Masson trichrome stain did not demonstrate substantial amounts of collagen; results of an acid orcein stain showed some elastin fibers at the base of the transepidermal channel (Figures 3 and 4). This combination of clinical and histopathologic findings was consistent with acquired perforating dermatosis (APD).

In addition to starting thyroid hormone replacement therapy for Hashimoto thyroiditis, the patient began narrowband UVB treatments 3 times weekly for her skin condition. After several months of thyroid hormone replacement therapy and 60 narrowband UVB treatments that led to normalization of her thyrotropin levels, the patient noted no new lesions, though the resolution of her old lesions was not substantial.

Comment

APD, often thought to be synonymous with acquired reactive perforating collagenosis, is a skin condition that is usually associated with pruritus and characterized by umbilicated papules and nodules with a central adherent plug. These nodules are manifestations of transepidermal elimination of ill-defined material containing cellular debris, elastin, and collagen. The nosology of perforating dermatoses has been complicated by considerable overlap among the different entities. It generally is accepted that APD is differentiated from other primary perforating dermatoses by the presence of an underlying systemic disease.In contradistinction to the primary perforating disorders Kyrle disease, reactive perforating collagenosis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, and perforating folliculitis, APD characteristically is associated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal insufficiency, or both, and does not display a familial inheritance pattern.1 Up to 11% (8/72) of patients who received hemodialysis have been reported to have APD.2 There also have been case reports of APD in association with atopic dermatitis,3 scabies infestation,4,5 herpes zoster,6-8 human immunodeficiency virus,9 pulmonary fibrosis,10 thyroid disease,11 and liver disease.12-17

In contrast to associations between APD and diabetes mellitus or renal disease, associations between APD and liver disease are reported less frequently. Kahana et al12 reported 2 cases of perforating folliculitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Salomon et al13 reported a case of a 46-year-old man with alcoholic liver disease who subsequently developed a perforating dermatosis. Lee et al14 reported a case of a 69-year-old man with hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma who developed APD. Tang et al15 reported a case of a 33-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B who developed APD. Faver et al11 reported a case of a 71-year-old man with “liver dysfunction” and nephropathy and a case of a 54-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and “chronic active hepatitis,” both with APD. Skiba et al16 reported a case of a 33-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and sclerosing cholangitis who also developed APD. Fujimoto et al17 reported 2 cases of APD with liver disease—one patient was a 50-year-old man with unspecified hepatitis, and the other patient was a 75-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and a hepatoma.

Reports of associations between APD and thyroid disease are even more infrequent than reports of APD and liver disease. Faver et al11 reported 3 cases of APD associated with hypothyroidism; 2 of these patients had concomitant diabetes mellitus. Although reports of associations between APD and thyroid disease are rare, it is unclear if this is because of a true rarity of coincidence or because the thyroid status of these patients typically is not checked or reported.

The pathogenesis of APD is unknown. The prominent association of APD with the symptom of pruritus has led many authors to speculate on a connection between scratching, trauma, and APD.3,18 Some studies have demonstrated increased expression of the 67-kD elastin receptor in lesions of perforating dermatoses; however, this expression is not uniformly elevated and the significance of this expression is not known.17 Other studies have found elevated levels of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin in lesions of APD, but similar to the elastin receptor findings, the significance of this observation is unknown.19,20

Histopathologically, lesions of APD are characterized by acanthosis and focal vacuolar alteration in the basal epidermis, with an associated underlying mixed infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and occasional mast cells. A transepidermal canal can be identified that often contains parakeratotic keratin, degenerated inflammatory cells, elastin, and collagen. The elastin and collagen in these lesions appear normal ultrastructurally, and results of direct immunofluorescence studies are negative.21,22 In one study of APD associated with diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency, needlelike crystals with some degree of calcification were identified. They were postulated to be uric acid or calcium hydroxyapatite crystals.23

Treatment of APD has proven to be challenging. Some clinicians report improvement of APD with topical retinoids19,24,25; topical, intralesional, or systemic corticosteroids26; oral doxycycline27; oral thalidomide9; oral allopurinol28; psoralen plus UVA phototherapy29; and broadband UVB phototherapy.11,30 Reports of narrowband UVB phototherapy in the treatment of APD appear promising.31,32 Ohe et al33 reported a case series of 5 patients with APD; all patients responded to narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is an uncommon skin eruption of unclear etiology that most often is associated with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal insufficiency. There are rare reports of APD in association with liver disease or thyroid disease. We report a case of APD in a patient with both primary biliary cirrhosis and Hashimoto thyroiditis in the absence of diabetes mellitus and chronic renal insufficiency. The patient had a partial response to narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Case Report
A 47-year-old woman with a history of primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis presented with a skin eruption of 4 years' duration. The patient stated that her skin felt pruritic overall, but the lesions had a painful quality. She could not identify any exacerbating or remitting factors. Her medications included prednisone 5 mg daily for rheumatoid arthritis and occasional propoxyphene for pain and zolpidem tartrate for insomnia. She had no personal or family history of diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, or similar skin disorders. On physical examination, the patient demonstrated mild scleral icterus. Her skin had a diffuse eruption of erythematous hyperkeratotic papules over the trunk and extremities. Several of these papules appeared excoriated and others appeared to have a central hyperkeratotic crust and hyperpigmented scarring (Figure 1).

Laboratory studies disclosed the following values: alanine aminotransferase, 122 U/L (reference range, 5–50 U/L); aspartate aminotransferase, 95 U/L (reference range, 15–50 U/L); alkaline phosphatase, 603 U/L (reference range, 35–110 U/L); total bilirubin, 6.4 mg/dL (reference range, 0.2–1.5 mg/dL); serum creatinine, 0.6 mg/dL (reference range, 0.7–1.2 mg/dL); and hemoglobin A1c, 4.2% (reference range, 4.4%–5.9%). The patient had a positive antinuclear antibody titer of 1:80 (reference range, <1:40) in a homogenous staining pattern. Her viral hepatitis infection serologies and antismooth muscle antibody titers were all negative. Additionally, her antimitochondrial antibody titers were positive, 1:160 (reference range, <1:20); thyrotropin levels were increased, 10.3 mIU/L (reference range, 0.3–4.7 mIU/L); and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were elevated, 14.8 IU/mL (reference range, <2.0 IU/mL).

Results of a liver biopsy demonstrated biliary injury and loss, with bridging fibrosis, consistent with stage III primary biliary cirrhosis. Results of a skin punch biopsy were remarkable for hyperkeratosis, epidermal acanthosis, and a channel filled with neutrophils and both eosinophilic and basophilic staining debris traversing the epidermis (Figure 2). A chronic infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and neutrophils was present at the base of the transepidermal channel. Results of a Masson trichrome stain did not demonstrate substantial amounts of collagen; results of an acid orcein stain showed some elastin fibers at the base of the transepidermal channel (Figures 3 and 4). This combination of clinical and histopathologic findings was consistent with acquired perforating dermatosis (APD).

In addition to starting thyroid hormone replacement therapy for Hashimoto thyroiditis, the patient began narrowband UVB treatments 3 times weekly for her skin condition. After several months of thyroid hormone replacement therapy and 60 narrowband UVB treatments that led to normalization of her thyrotropin levels, the patient noted no new lesions, though the resolution of her old lesions was not substantial.

Comment

APD, often thought to be synonymous with acquired reactive perforating collagenosis, is a skin condition that is usually associated with pruritus and characterized by umbilicated papules and nodules with a central adherent plug. These nodules are manifestations of transepidermal elimination of ill-defined material containing cellular debris, elastin, and collagen. The nosology of perforating dermatoses has been complicated by considerable overlap among the different entities. It generally is accepted that APD is differentiated from other primary perforating dermatoses by the presence of an underlying systemic disease.In contradistinction to the primary perforating disorders Kyrle disease, reactive perforating collagenosis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, and perforating folliculitis, APD characteristically is associated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal insufficiency, or both, and does not display a familial inheritance pattern.1 Up to 11% (8/72) of patients who received hemodialysis have been reported to have APD.2 There also have been case reports of APD in association with atopic dermatitis,3 scabies infestation,4,5 herpes zoster,6-8 human immunodeficiency virus,9 pulmonary fibrosis,10 thyroid disease,11 and liver disease.12-17

In contrast to associations between APD and diabetes mellitus or renal disease, associations between APD and liver disease are reported less frequently. Kahana et al12 reported 2 cases of perforating folliculitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Salomon et al13 reported a case of a 46-year-old man with alcoholic liver disease who subsequently developed a perforating dermatosis. Lee et al14 reported a case of a 69-year-old man with hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma who developed APD. Tang et al15 reported a case of a 33-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B who developed APD. Faver et al11 reported a case of a 71-year-old man with “liver dysfunction” and nephropathy and a case of a 54-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and “chronic active hepatitis,” both with APD. Skiba et al16 reported a case of a 33-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and sclerosing cholangitis who also developed APD. Fujimoto et al17 reported 2 cases of APD with liver disease—one patient was a 50-year-old man with unspecified hepatitis, and the other patient was a 75-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and a hepatoma.

Reports of associations between APD and thyroid disease are even more infrequent than reports of APD and liver disease. Faver et al11 reported 3 cases of APD associated with hypothyroidism; 2 of these patients had concomitant diabetes mellitus. Although reports of associations between APD and thyroid disease are rare, it is unclear if this is because of a true rarity of coincidence or because the thyroid status of these patients typically is not checked or reported.

The pathogenesis of APD is unknown. The prominent association of APD with the symptom of pruritus has led many authors to speculate on a connection between scratching, trauma, and APD.3,18 Some studies have demonstrated increased expression of the 67-kD elastin receptor in lesions of perforating dermatoses; however, this expression is not uniformly elevated and the significance of this expression is not known.17 Other studies have found elevated levels of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin in lesions of APD, but similar to the elastin receptor findings, the significance of this observation is unknown.19,20

Histopathologically, lesions of APD are characterized by acanthosis and focal vacuolar alteration in the basal epidermis, with an associated underlying mixed infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and occasional mast cells. A transepidermal canal can be identified that often contains parakeratotic keratin, degenerated inflammatory cells, elastin, and collagen. The elastin and collagen in these lesions appear normal ultrastructurally, and results of direct immunofluorescence studies are negative.21,22 In one study of APD associated with diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency, needlelike crystals with some degree of calcification were identified. They were postulated to be uric acid or calcium hydroxyapatite crystals.23

Treatment of APD has proven to be challenging. Some clinicians report improvement of APD with topical retinoids19,24,25; topical, intralesional, or systemic corticosteroids26; oral doxycycline27; oral thalidomide9; oral allopurinol28; psoralen plus UVA phototherapy29; and broadband UVB phototherapy.11,30 Reports of narrowband UVB phototherapy in the treatment of APD appear promising.31,32 Ohe et al33 reported a case series of 5 patients with APD; all patients responded to narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is an uncommon skin eruption of unclear etiology that most often is associated with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal insufficiency. There are rare reports of APD in association with liver disease or thyroid disease. We report a case of APD in a patient with both primary biliary cirrhosis and Hashimoto thyroiditis in the absence of diabetes mellitus and chronic renal insufficiency. The patient had a partial response to narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Case Report
A 47-year-old woman with a history of primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis presented with a skin eruption of 4 years' duration. The patient stated that her skin felt pruritic overall, but the lesions had a painful quality. She could not identify any exacerbating or remitting factors. Her medications included prednisone 5 mg daily for rheumatoid arthritis and occasional propoxyphene for pain and zolpidem tartrate for insomnia. She had no personal or family history of diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, or similar skin disorders. On physical examination, the patient demonstrated mild scleral icterus. Her skin had a diffuse eruption of erythematous hyperkeratotic papules over the trunk and extremities. Several of these papules appeared excoriated and others appeared to have a central hyperkeratotic crust and hyperpigmented scarring (Figure 1).

Laboratory studies disclosed the following values: alanine aminotransferase, 122 U/L (reference range, 5–50 U/L); aspartate aminotransferase, 95 U/L (reference range, 15–50 U/L); alkaline phosphatase, 603 U/L (reference range, 35–110 U/L); total bilirubin, 6.4 mg/dL (reference range, 0.2–1.5 mg/dL); serum creatinine, 0.6 mg/dL (reference range, 0.7–1.2 mg/dL); and hemoglobin A1c, 4.2% (reference range, 4.4%–5.9%). The patient had a positive antinuclear antibody titer of 1:80 (reference range, <1:40) in a homogenous staining pattern. Her viral hepatitis infection serologies and antismooth muscle antibody titers were all negative. Additionally, her antimitochondrial antibody titers were positive, 1:160 (reference range, <1:20); thyrotropin levels were increased, 10.3 mIU/L (reference range, 0.3–4.7 mIU/L); and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were elevated, 14.8 IU/mL (reference range, <2.0 IU/mL).

Results of a liver biopsy demonstrated biliary injury and loss, with bridging fibrosis, consistent with stage III primary biliary cirrhosis. Results of a skin punch biopsy were remarkable for hyperkeratosis, epidermal acanthosis, and a channel filled with neutrophils and both eosinophilic and basophilic staining debris traversing the epidermis (Figure 2). A chronic infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and neutrophils was present at the base of the transepidermal channel. Results of a Masson trichrome stain did not demonstrate substantial amounts of collagen; results of an acid orcein stain showed some elastin fibers at the base of the transepidermal channel (Figures 3 and 4). This combination of clinical and histopathologic findings was consistent with acquired perforating dermatosis (APD).

In addition to starting thyroid hormone replacement therapy for Hashimoto thyroiditis, the patient began narrowband UVB treatments 3 times weekly for her skin condition. After several months of thyroid hormone replacement therapy and 60 narrowband UVB treatments that led to normalization of her thyrotropin levels, the patient noted no new lesions, though the resolution of her old lesions was not substantial.

Comment

APD, often thought to be synonymous with acquired reactive perforating collagenosis, is a skin condition that is usually associated with pruritus and characterized by umbilicated papules and nodules with a central adherent plug. These nodules are manifestations of transepidermal elimination of ill-defined material containing cellular debris, elastin, and collagen. The nosology of perforating dermatoses has been complicated by considerable overlap among the different entities. It generally is accepted that APD is differentiated from other primary perforating dermatoses by the presence of an underlying systemic disease.In contradistinction to the primary perforating disorders Kyrle disease, reactive perforating collagenosis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, and perforating folliculitis, APD characteristically is associated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal insufficiency, or both, and does not display a familial inheritance pattern.1 Up to 11% (8/72) of patients who received hemodialysis have been reported to have APD.2 There also have been case reports of APD in association with atopic dermatitis,3 scabies infestation,4,5 herpes zoster,6-8 human immunodeficiency virus,9 pulmonary fibrosis,10 thyroid disease,11 and liver disease.12-17

In contrast to associations between APD and diabetes mellitus or renal disease, associations between APD and liver disease are reported less frequently. Kahana et al12 reported 2 cases of perforating folliculitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Salomon et al13 reported a case of a 46-year-old man with alcoholic liver disease who subsequently developed a perforating dermatosis. Lee et al14 reported a case of a 69-year-old man with hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma who developed APD. Tang et al15 reported a case of a 33-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B who developed APD. Faver et al11 reported a case of a 71-year-old man with “liver dysfunction” and nephropathy and a case of a 54-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and “chronic active hepatitis,” both with APD. Skiba et al16 reported a case of a 33-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and sclerosing cholangitis who also developed APD. Fujimoto et al17 reported 2 cases of APD with liver disease—one patient was a 50-year-old man with unspecified hepatitis, and the other patient was a 75-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and a hepatoma.

Reports of associations between APD and thyroid disease are even more infrequent than reports of APD and liver disease. Faver et al11 reported 3 cases of APD associated with hypothyroidism; 2 of these patients had concomitant diabetes mellitus. Although reports of associations between APD and thyroid disease are rare, it is unclear if this is because of a true rarity of coincidence or because the thyroid status of these patients typically is not checked or reported.

The pathogenesis of APD is unknown. The prominent association of APD with the symptom of pruritus has led many authors to speculate on a connection between scratching, trauma, and APD.3,18 Some studies have demonstrated increased expression of the 67-kD elastin receptor in lesions of perforating dermatoses; however, this expression is not uniformly elevated and the significance of this expression is not known.17 Other studies have found elevated levels of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin in lesions of APD, but similar to the elastin receptor findings, the significance of this observation is unknown.19,20

Histopathologically, lesions of APD are characterized by acanthosis and focal vacuolar alteration in the basal epidermis, with an associated underlying mixed infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and occasional mast cells. A transepidermal canal can be identified that often contains parakeratotic keratin, degenerated inflammatory cells, elastin, and collagen. The elastin and collagen in these lesions appear normal ultrastructurally, and results of direct immunofluorescence studies are negative.21,22 In one study of APD associated with diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency, needlelike crystals with some degree of calcification were identified. They were postulated to be uric acid or calcium hydroxyapatite crystals.23

Treatment of APD has proven to be challenging. Some clinicians report improvement of APD with topical retinoids19,24,25; topical, intralesional, or systemic corticosteroids26; oral doxycycline27; oral thalidomide9; oral allopurinol28; psoralen plus UVA phototherapy29; and broadband UVB phototherapy.11,30 Reports of narrowband UVB phototherapy in the treatment of APD appear promising.31,32 Ohe et al33 reported a case series of 5 patients with APD; all patients responded to narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Case Report

An otherwise healthy 54-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of multiple asymptomatic papules on her nose. The patient's past medical history included hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Her medications included atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, and gemfibrozil. She denied prior infection suggestive of Borrelia species or molluscum contagiosum. Results of a physical examination revealed 4 firm, skin-colored to pink, dome-shaped papules on the right nasal ala (Figure 1) and dorsum. A shave biopsy of a lesion on the right nasal ala was performed. Results of a routine histologic evaluation revealed a diffuse basophilic infiltrate in the dermis (Figure 2). The infiltrate consisted of polyclonal B and T cells (Figure 3). The B cells were CD20+ and T cells were CD4+ and CD8+. In addition, there was a mixed expression of κ and λ chains within the infiltrate. The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH).

Please refer to the PDF to view the figures

For cosmetic reasons, numerous treatment modalities were attempted. The lesions initially were treated with a variety of topical steroids and immunomodulators, with minimal success. In addition, cryotherapy and intralesional steroids were used, with some short-lived response. However, the treated lesions never completely regressed and returned to their pretreatment size within 10 to 14 days after therapy. The lesions did respond well to shave removal, but the patient's personal fear of needles prevented her from continuing this treatment option. She subsequently was lost to follow-up.

Comment

The term cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia was coined by Caro and Helwig¹ in 1969. The disease also has been called lymphadenosis benigna cutis, Spiegler-Fendt pseudolymphoma, lymphocytoma cutis, and cutaneous lymphoplasia.² Although the pathogenesis of CLH remains unknown and most cases are idiopathic, certain drugs and long-term antigenic stimulation are implicated in many cases.³ Anticonvulsant medications (ie, phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, sodium valproate) appear to be the most common pharmaceutical agents to cause CLH. Losartan, gemcitabine, bromocriptine, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, and injected silicone also have been associated with this disease.^4-8 Rarely, infectious agents such as Borrelia species and molluscum contagiosum have been linked with CLH.^9-11 Additionally, CLH has occurred following exposure to various foreign antigens, including tattoos, trauma, body piercing jewelry, cobalt, leeches, and arthropod bites and stings.^9,12-14 Appearance of multiple lesions has been reported following injection of allergen for hyposensitization.^15,16 May et al³ described CLH localized to the site of influenza vaccination.

CLH is seen in both adults and pediatric patients and is 2 to 3 times more likely to occur in females.⁹ Morphologically, CLH appears as clusters of firm pink-colored to plum-colored papules, plaques, nodules, or tumors that occur on any skin surface but most commonly on the face. Although patients usually are asymptomatic, many seek treatment for cosmesis. CLH can be associated with regional lymphadenopathy, though most cases are not associated with other physical findings. The clinical differential diagnosis includes cutaneous lymphomas.^10,17

On histologic examination, lesions of CLH may display multiple lymphoid follicles and dense superficial to deep infiltration of mostly mature lymphocytes.^2,9 Lymphocytes often are admixed with histiocytes and occasional eosinophils and plasma cells.1 Germinal centers with tingible body macrophages often are apparent.^9,10,18 Because these features also may be seen in lymphomas, determination of polyclonality by immunophenotyping with either polymerase chain reaction or other techniques is helpful in the evaluation of CLH. Lesions of CLH may consist of an infiltrate that mostly consists of mixed CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in the periphery, with B lymphocytes predominating within germinal centers. Mixed expression of κ and λ chains also has been suggested as a marker for CLH because most lymphomas demonstrate restricted expression of κ or λ chains.^3,10 Despite the general rule of polyclonality with CLH and monoclonality with lymphomas, there have been reports of CLH in the presence of a monoclonal lymphocyte population and clinically malignant cutaneous B-cell lymphomas without evidence of monoclonality.^9,19

Although the characteristic lymphocytic proliferation appears to be reactive and polyclonal, the literature suggests that some cases of CLH have the potential to become malignant.^9,20 A study by Nihal et al⁹ identified several cases of CLH that harbored monoclonal B-cell populations that eventually progressed to overt lymphomas. During follow-up of these patients, polymerase chain reaction analysis of their lymphomas revealed malignant lymphocytes from the same cell lineage noted in the original CLH lesion. Although the molecular pathogenesis of B-cell proliferations in CLH is poorly understood, recent literature has shown that a B-cell chemoattractant, BCA-1 (B-cell attracting chemokine 1), and its receptor, CXCR5 (chemokine receptor 5), are expressed by lymphocytes in moderate quantities in lesions of CLH.²⁰ The same lesions also have shown expression of BCA-1 on dendritic cells within lymphoid follicles. Low-grade and high-grade B-cell lymphomas also express both BCA-1 and its receptor, but expression is restricted to neoplastic B cells.²⁰ Neither BCA-1 nor CXCR5 are expressed in healthy skin.

Lesions of CLH often regress spontaneously, though some cases become chronic and others recur locally.¹⁹ Rarely, some lesions progress to cutaneous lymphoma. However, it is uncertain if this represents true progression of a benign lesion along a continuum leading to lymphoma or a failure to diagnose a lesion that was malignant from the start.^2,9,21

For CLH that results from known stimuli, the first step in treatment is removal of the causative agent. Antibiotic therapy has been effective in cases related to infective causes.^10,18 Reported therapies for persistent or idiopathic cases include topical or intralesional corticosteroids, cryosurgery, local radiation, excision, interferon alfa, and laser ablation.^19,22,23 Good response to thalidomide has been documented in one small study.²⁴ 

Conclusion

CLH is a benign lymphoid proliferation resulting from various antigenic stimuli and may have the potential for progression to overt lymphoma. Lesions may closely resemble lymphoma both clinically and histologically, highlighting the importance of immunophenotyping in establishing a diagnosis. Treatment of this benign disease entity needs to be individualized for each patient. Although there are numerous treatment options for CLH, none are consistently effective. 

Case Report

An otherwise healthy 54-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of multiple asymptomatic papules on her nose. The patient's past medical history included hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Her medications included atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, and gemfibrozil. She denied prior infection suggestive of Borrelia species or molluscum contagiosum. Results of a physical examination revealed 4 firm, skin-colored to pink, dome-shaped papules on the right nasal ala (Figure 1) and dorsum. A shave biopsy of a lesion on the right nasal ala was performed. Results of a routine histologic evaluation revealed a diffuse basophilic infiltrate in the dermis (Figure 2). The infiltrate consisted of polyclonal B and T cells (Figure 3). The B cells were CD20+ and T cells were CD4+ and CD8+. In addition, there was a mixed expression of κ and λ chains within the infiltrate. The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH).

Please refer to the PDF to view the figures

For cosmetic reasons, numerous treatment modalities were attempted. The lesions initially were treated with a variety of topical steroids and immunomodulators, with minimal success. In addition, cryotherapy and intralesional steroids were used, with some short-lived response. However, the treated lesions never completely regressed and returned to their pretreatment size within 10 to 14 days after therapy. The lesions did respond well to shave removal, but the patient's personal fear of needles prevented her from continuing this treatment option. She subsequently was lost to follow-up.

Comment

The term cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia was coined by Caro and Helwig¹ in 1969. The disease also has been called lymphadenosis benigna cutis, Spiegler-Fendt pseudolymphoma, lymphocytoma cutis, and cutaneous lymphoplasia.² Although the pathogenesis of CLH remains unknown and most cases are idiopathic, certain drugs and long-term antigenic stimulation are implicated in many cases.³ Anticonvulsant medications (ie, phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, sodium valproate) appear to be the most common pharmaceutical agents to cause CLH. Losartan, gemcitabine, bromocriptine, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, and injected silicone also have been associated with this disease.^4-8 Rarely, infectious agents such as Borrelia species and molluscum contagiosum have been linked with CLH.^9-11 Additionally, CLH has occurred following exposure to various foreign antigens, including tattoos, trauma, body piercing jewelry, cobalt, leeches, and arthropod bites and stings.^9,12-14 Appearance of multiple lesions has been reported following injection of allergen for hyposensitization.^15,16 May et al³ described CLH localized to the site of influenza vaccination.

CLH is seen in both adults and pediatric patients and is 2 to 3 times more likely to occur in females.⁹ Morphologically, CLH appears as clusters of firm pink-colored to plum-colored papules, plaques, nodules, or tumors that occur on any skin surface but most commonly on the face. Although patients usually are asymptomatic, many seek treatment for cosmesis. CLH can be associated with regional lymphadenopathy, though most cases are not associated with other physical findings. The clinical differential diagnosis includes cutaneous lymphomas.^10,17

On histologic examination, lesions of CLH may display multiple lymphoid follicles and dense superficial to deep infiltration of mostly mature lymphocytes.^2,9 Lymphocytes often are admixed with histiocytes and occasional eosinophils and plasma cells.1 Germinal centers with tingible body macrophages often are apparent.^9,10,18 Because these features also may be seen in lymphomas, determination of polyclonality by immunophenotyping with either polymerase chain reaction or other techniques is helpful in the evaluation of CLH. Lesions of CLH may consist of an infiltrate that mostly consists of mixed CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in the periphery, with B lymphocytes predominating within germinal centers. Mixed expression of κ and λ chains also has been suggested as a marker for CLH because most lymphomas demonstrate restricted expression of κ or λ chains.^3,10 Despite the general rule of polyclonality with CLH and monoclonality with lymphomas, there have been reports of CLH in the presence of a monoclonal lymphocyte population and clinically malignant cutaneous B-cell lymphomas without evidence of monoclonality.^9,19

Although the characteristic lymphocytic proliferation appears to be reactive and polyclonal, the literature suggests that some cases of CLH have the potential to become malignant.^9,20 A study by Nihal et al⁹ identified several cases of CLH that harbored monoclonal B-cell populations that eventually progressed to overt lymphomas. During follow-up of these patients, polymerase chain reaction analysis of their lymphomas revealed malignant lymphocytes from the same cell lineage noted in the original CLH lesion. Although the molecular pathogenesis of B-cell proliferations in CLH is poorly understood, recent literature has shown that a B-cell chemoattractant, BCA-1 (B-cell attracting chemokine 1), and its receptor, CXCR5 (chemokine receptor 5), are expressed by lymphocytes in moderate quantities in lesions of CLH.²⁰ The same lesions also have shown expression of BCA-1 on dendritic cells within lymphoid follicles. Low-grade and high-grade B-cell lymphomas also express both BCA-1 and its receptor, but expression is restricted to neoplastic B cells.²⁰ Neither BCA-1 nor CXCR5 are expressed in healthy skin.

Lesions of CLH often regress spontaneously, though some cases become chronic and others recur locally.¹⁹ Rarely, some lesions progress to cutaneous lymphoma. However, it is uncertain if this represents true progression of a benign lesion along a continuum leading to lymphoma or a failure to diagnose a lesion that was malignant from the start.^2,9,21

For CLH that results from known stimuli, the first step in treatment is removal of the causative agent. Antibiotic therapy has been effective in cases related to infective causes.^10,18 Reported therapies for persistent or idiopathic cases include topical or intralesional corticosteroids, cryosurgery, local radiation, excision, interferon alfa, and laser ablation.^19,22,23 Good response to thalidomide has been documented in one small study.²⁴ 

Conclusion

CLH is a benign lymphoid proliferation resulting from various antigenic stimuli and may have the potential for progression to overt lymphoma. Lesions may closely resemble lymphoma both clinically and histologically, highlighting the importance of immunophenotyping in establishing a diagnosis. Treatment of this benign disease entity needs to be individualized for each patient. Although there are numerous treatment options for CLH, none are consistently effective. 

Case Report

An otherwise healthy 54-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of multiple asymptomatic papules on her nose. The patient's past medical history included hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Her medications included atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, and gemfibrozil. She denied prior infection suggestive of Borrelia species or molluscum contagiosum. Results of a physical examination revealed 4 firm, skin-colored to pink, dome-shaped papules on the right nasal ala (Figure 1) and dorsum. A shave biopsy of a lesion on the right nasal ala was performed. Results of a routine histologic evaluation revealed a diffuse basophilic infiltrate in the dermis (Figure 2). The infiltrate consisted of polyclonal B and T cells (Figure 3). The B cells were CD20+ and T cells were CD4+ and CD8+. In addition, there was a mixed expression of κ and λ chains within the infiltrate. The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH).

Please refer to the PDF to view the figures

For cosmetic reasons, numerous treatment modalities were attempted. The lesions initially were treated with a variety of topical steroids and immunomodulators, with minimal success. In addition, cryotherapy and intralesional steroids were used, with some short-lived response. However, the treated lesions never completely regressed and returned to their pretreatment size within 10 to 14 days after therapy. The lesions did respond well to shave removal, but the patient's personal fear of needles prevented her from continuing this treatment option. She subsequently was lost to follow-up.

Comment

The term cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia was coined by Caro and Helwig¹ in 1969. The disease also has been called lymphadenosis benigna cutis, Spiegler-Fendt pseudolymphoma, lymphocytoma cutis, and cutaneous lymphoplasia.² Although the pathogenesis of CLH remains unknown and most cases are idiopathic, certain drugs and long-term antigenic stimulation are implicated in many cases.³ Anticonvulsant medications (ie, phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, sodium valproate) appear to be the most common pharmaceutical agents to cause CLH. Losartan, gemcitabine, bromocriptine, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, and injected silicone also have been associated with this disease.^4-8 Rarely, infectious agents such as Borrelia species and molluscum contagiosum have been linked with CLH.^9-11 Additionally, CLH has occurred following exposure to various foreign antigens, including tattoos, trauma, body piercing jewelry, cobalt, leeches, and arthropod bites and stings.^9,12-14 Appearance of multiple lesions has been reported following injection of allergen for hyposensitization.^15,16 May et al³ described CLH localized to the site of influenza vaccination.

CLH is seen in both adults and pediatric patients and is 2 to 3 times more likely to occur in females.⁹ Morphologically, CLH appears as clusters of firm pink-colored to plum-colored papules, plaques, nodules, or tumors that occur on any skin surface but most commonly on the face. Although patients usually are asymptomatic, many seek treatment for cosmesis. CLH can be associated with regional lymphadenopathy, though most cases are not associated with other physical findings. The clinical differential diagnosis includes cutaneous lymphomas.^10,17

On histologic examination, lesions of CLH may display multiple lymphoid follicles and dense superficial to deep infiltration of mostly mature lymphocytes.^2,9 Lymphocytes often are admixed with histiocytes and occasional eosinophils and plasma cells.1 Germinal centers with tingible body macrophages often are apparent.^9,10,18 Because these features also may be seen in lymphomas, determination of polyclonality by immunophenotyping with either polymerase chain reaction or other techniques is helpful in the evaluation of CLH. Lesions of CLH may consist of an infiltrate that mostly consists of mixed CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in the periphery, with B lymphocytes predominating within germinal centers. Mixed expression of κ and λ chains also has been suggested as a marker for CLH because most lymphomas demonstrate restricted expression of κ or λ chains.^3,10 Despite the general rule of polyclonality with CLH and monoclonality with lymphomas, there have been reports of CLH in the presence of a monoclonal lymphocyte population and clinically malignant cutaneous B-cell lymphomas without evidence of monoclonality.^9,19

Although the characteristic lymphocytic proliferation appears to be reactive and polyclonal, the literature suggests that some cases of CLH have the potential to become malignant.^9,20 A study by Nihal et al⁹ identified several cases of CLH that harbored monoclonal B-cell populations that eventually progressed to overt lymphomas. During follow-up of these patients, polymerase chain reaction analysis of their lymphomas revealed malignant lymphocytes from the same cell lineage noted in the original CLH lesion. Although the molecular pathogenesis of B-cell proliferations in CLH is poorly understood, recent literature has shown that a B-cell chemoattractant, BCA-1 (B-cell attracting chemokine 1), and its receptor, CXCR5 (chemokine receptor 5), are expressed by lymphocytes in moderate quantities in lesions of CLH.²⁰ The same lesions also have shown expression of BCA-1 on dendritic cells within lymphoid follicles. Low-grade and high-grade B-cell lymphomas also express both BCA-1 and its receptor, but expression is restricted to neoplastic B cells.²⁰ Neither BCA-1 nor CXCR5 are expressed in healthy skin.

Lesions of CLH often regress spontaneously, though some cases become chronic and others recur locally.¹⁹ Rarely, some lesions progress to cutaneous lymphoma. However, it is uncertain if this represents true progression of a benign lesion along a continuum leading to lymphoma or a failure to diagnose a lesion that was malignant from the start.^2,9,21

For CLH that results from known stimuli, the first step in treatment is removal of the causative agent. Antibiotic therapy has been effective in cases related to infective causes.^10,18 Reported therapies for persistent or idiopathic cases include topical or intralesional corticosteroids, cryosurgery, local radiation, excision, interferon alfa, and laser ablation.^19,22,23 Good response to thalidomide has been documented in one small study.²⁴ 

Conclusion

CLH is a benign lymphoid proliferation resulting from various antigenic stimuli and may have the potential for progression to overt lymphoma. Lesions may closely resemble lymphoma both clinically and histologically, highlighting the importance of immunophenotyping in establishing a diagnosis. Treatment of this benign disease entity needs to be individualized for each patient. Although there are numerous treatment options for CLH, none are consistently effective.