The similarity in the nomenclature and in the clinical symptoms of progressive indurations of the skin often makes their recognition difficult. In 1902 Buschke1 described a progressive induration of the skin which differed from all other sclerodermatous processes in its clinical and more especially in its pathologic and prognostic aspects. He called it scleredema adultorum to differentiate it from similar conditions of the new-born. Since then more than fifty-four cases have been reported, mainly in German and in French, and scleredema adultorum has become recognized as a separate disease entity.
This form of scleredema is usually preceded by an infectious disease, such as angina, influenza, scarlet fever, erysipelas or a pyodermic infection of the skin. The deep cutis, the subcutis and occasionally the fascia and the muscles become indurated, hard and tight, causing limitation of motion in the affected parts. The progressive hardening usually begins in the face and