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Article
November 1994

Two Asymptomatic Plaques on the Chest of a Young Woman

Author Affiliations

University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine

Arch Dermatol. 1994;130(11):1437-1438. doi:10.1001/archderm.1994.01690110103020
Abstract

REPORT OF A CASE  A 34-year-old white woman presented with a severalmonth history of two asymptomatic plaques on her chest. Review of systems and history were unremarkable. Physical examination revealed two well-demarcated, smooth, nonscaly erythematous plaques on her chest (Figure 1 and Figure 2). A potassium hydroxide preparation was negative. The skin biopsy specimen with special stain is shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4.What is your diagnosis?Figure 1.Figure 2.Figure 3.Figure 4.

DIAGNOSIS:  Plaquelike cutaneous mucinosis (PCM).

HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS AND CLINICAL COURSE  Alcian blue staining showed increased quantities of acid mucopolysaccharides.The patient was treated with 0.1% triamcinolone ointment twice daily for 2 weeks with minimal improvement. She was then offered antimalarials; however, she declined further therapy.

DISCUSSION  Plaquelike cutaneous mucinosis is an uncommon disorder of increased mucin deposition. A similar more common condition presenting with reticular lesions is called reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM). Patients

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