Lichen myxoedematosus discrete type L98.5

Dubreuilh, 1906, Montgomery and Underwood, 1953

Very rare, papular, small-hearth-disseminated mucinosis in euthyroidism. The disease, also known as "discrete lichen myxedematosus" or "classical lichen myxoedematosus", is considered an independent, non-systemic minus variant of generalized (systemic) scleromyxedema; see below. Overview - Lichen myxoedematosus group).

The affected skin is not indurated, the face remains unaffected, paraproteinemia is not proven. Transitions to scleromyxoedema have not been described for the "discrete lichen myxoedematosus".

Unknown, fibroblast proliferation with accumulation of acidic mucopolysaccharides.

Disease of adulthood, manifestation age between 30 and 40 years.

Whitish or skin-colored, firm papules and plaques

V.a. extensor sides of the arms, also back of the hands, trunk and thighs are rarely affected.

Integument: Frequently symmetrically distributed, nonpruritic, nonfollicular, disseminated, 0.3- 0.4 cm in size, lichenoid, soft or firm, skin-colored, yellowish-white or yellowish-reddish papules, regionally also aggregated or confluent into plaques. It is not uncommon to see a linear arrangement of the nodules (see Fig.).

Mucinous papules in circumscribed areas in the upper dermis. In some cases the epidermis is flattened, the retelepses have spread. Adnexae may be missing. Noticeable is the marked mucin proliferation with proliferation of fibroblasts (often with large star-shaped nuclei) in the upper and middle dermis. Vertebrally arranged collagen fibre bundles. Discrete lymphocytic infiltrates are localized perivascularly.

Granuloma anulare

Rheumatoid nodules

S.a.u. Mucinosis, cutaneous, infantile.

No causal therapy known.

Spontaneous cures are possible.

Aggressive therapeutic approaches should otherwise be made with due restraint (the disease is not life-threatening). S.a.u. Scleromyxedema.

Immunosuppressive therapy: consider secondary tumor risk when using alkylating cytostatics. Successful treatments are described with melphalan (Alkeran) and with cyclophosphamide (Endoxan) 100-150 mg/day p.o.. However, these are often accompanied by significant NW (pancyto-, leuko-, thrombopenias).

Especially with regard to long-term therapy, chlorambucil (Leukeran) 4-6 mg/day proves to be better tolerated.

On a trial basis, isotretinoin (e.g., isotretinoin-ratiopharm; acnenormin) 0.5-1 mg/kg bw/day initially can also be used.

1. Adachi Y, Iba S, Horio T (2000) Successful treatment of lichen myxoedematosus with PUVA photochemotherapy. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 16: 229-231
2. Bolton JG et al (2012) An interstitial granulomatous pattern in localized lichen myxedematosus with associated monoclonal gammopathy. J Cutan catheter 39:395-398
3. de Cambourg G et al (2012) Atypical papular mucinosis with initial histological findings evocative of granuloma annulare. Ann Dermatol Venereol 139:58-62
4. Dubreuilh W (1906) Fibromes miliares follicularies; scleroderma consecutive. Arch Dermatoll Syph 7: 569
5. Montgomery H, Underwood LJ (1953) Lichen myxedematosus: Differentiation from cutaneous myxedemas or mucoid states. J Invest Dermatol 20: 213-233
6. Podda M et al (2001) Cutaneous mucinosis of infancy: is it a real entity or the paediatric form of lichen myxoedematosus (papular mucinosis)? Br J Dermatol 144: 590-593
7. Reserva J et al (2015) Discrete ('acral nonpapular') localised myxedematosus. BMJ Case Rep doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-209462
8. Saez-Rodriguez M et al (2003) Localized lichen myxoedematosus (papular mucinosis) associated with morbid obesity: report of two cases. Br J Dermatol 148: 165-168
9. Tam CC et al (2014) Discrete papular lichen myxedematosus with an unusualsegmental presentation. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 22: 224-226