A Case of Pretibial Mucinosis without Thyroid Disease

Obesity-Associated Lymphedematous Mucinosis: Two Further Cases and Review of the Literature

“…The pathogenesis of this rare condition has not been fully elucidated and, to the best of our knowledge, 22 cases have been reported in the English literature and are summarized in Table 1[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Lymphatic stasis, stimulated by the obesity, seems to determine a local hypoxia leading to the accumulation of mucin [4].…”

Obesity‐associated lymphoedematous mucinosis

“…They concluded that pretibial mucinosis may result from Graves’ disease and stasis and histological features allow for accurate differentiation. In 2002, Kim et al 7 , while reporting another case of pretibial mucinosis without thyroid disease, suggested that all the pathological conditions that cause venous insufficiency, including trauma, cellulitis as well as stasis dermatitis, may lead to pretibial mucinosis of the legs. In 2006, Tokuda et al 2 reported three patients with morbid obesity and bilateral pitting oedema of the legs presenting with the gradual and painless onset of vesicles, semitranslucent papules or woody plaques on the shin in the absence of thyroidopathy.…”

Clinical and pathological appearance of localized lower leg mucinosis

“…In 2002, Kim et al. 6 reported a similar case. They suggested that all conditions that cause venous insufficiency, including trauma and cellulitis as well as stasis dermatitis, may lead to the rare condition of pretibial mucinosis.…”

“…They concluded that pretibial mucinosis may result from stasis or Graves' disease and that the histological differences may allow for accurate differentiation. In 2002, Kim et al 6 reported a similar case. They suggested that all conditions that cause venous insufficiency, including trauma and cellulitis as well as stasis dermatitis, may lead to the rare condition of pretibial mucinosis.…”

“…There are two hypotheses to explain the deposition of mucin on the lower leg. 1,[6][7][8] One is the resultant surface ischemia with venous insufficiency which may stimulate excess production of hyaluronic acid. The other explanation is that the extravascular accumulation of plasma proteins may stimulate mucopolysaccharide synthesis in the lymphedema setting.…”