A case of idiopathic atrophoderma with atrophic and morphea-like lesions is presented. This disease was described under many synonyms in the past.
The relation of atrophoderma to morphea, progressive systemic sclerosis, and the cutaneous atrophies is studied and the histopathologic findings are compared. The histopathology is found to be variable, indistinct, and cannot be distinguished with certainty from morphea.
Early erythematous lesions of atrophoderma cannot be distinguished from early lesions of morphea.
The opinion is expressed that idiopathic atrophoderma is an abortive (d'emblée) or atypical form of morphea.