Benign Atrophic Papulosis as a Paraneoplastic Clinical Marker

Abstract

Degos’ disease is a rare vascular disorder with a cutaneous-limited form - benign atrophic papulosis, and a systemic variant - malignant atrophic papulosis. The aetiology of this condition is unknown. The cutaneous signs – papular skin lesions with central porcelain-white atrophy and surrounding telangiectatic rim – are pathognomonic. Extracutaneous, systemic involvement includes multiple limited infarcts of the gastrointestinal system, central nervous system and other organs. Here, we report a patient with cutaneous manifestation of Degos disease associated with a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The patient had no other internal organs involvement. Benign Degos’ disease is anecdotally rare, and no other association with neoplastic conditions have been reported, to date. A speculation of the possible common pathogenetic pathways is also presented.