Nevus Anelasticus, Papular Elastorrhexis, and Eruptive Collagenoma: Clinically Similar Entities with Focal Absence of Elastic Fibers in Childhood

Abstract

Focal absence of elastic fibers is a defining characteristic of three rare, clinically similar conditions: nevus anelasticus, papular elastorrhexis, and eruptive collagenoma. We present a 16-year-old with nevus anelasticus treated with intralesional steroid injections, resulting in erythematous atrophic depressions. We also review the English language literature on nevus anelasticus, papular elastorrhexis, and eruptive collagenoma. There may be sufficient clinical and histopathologic similarity to indicate that these three entities represent a single disease or disease spectrum. We believe that this entity should be referred to as papular elastorrhexis.

Connective tissue nevi in children: Institutional experience and review

“…Clinical differential diagnosis included primarily varicella scars, followed by anetoderma and granuloma annulare. [27][28][29][30] We agree with Ryder and Antaya 30 that nevus anelasticus, papular elastorrhexis, and EC are clinically and pathologically similar entities but retain the term ''eruptive collagenoma,'' given its association with the CTN syndromes. [31][32][33] Histologically, in EC there is a diminution, with occasional fragmentation and even absence, of elastic fibers; there may be strikingly increased collagen, probably depending on the time spectrum at which the lesion is biopsied.…”

“…It has a unique clinical presentation with multiple 2-to 5-mm whitish or flesh-colored firm papules on the trunk, abdomen, and lower legs, with onset in childhood in the absence of preceding inflammation including varicella. [27][28][29][30] This clinical pattern was seen in one case of FCC and two of our patients with BOS. Clinical differential diagnosis included primarily varicella scars, followed by anetoderma and granuloma annulare.…”

Case report: a case of eruptive collagenoma occurring in esophagus and intestine

“…Based on the similar clinical and histopathological features, some authors considered they represent a single disease spectrum [3, 16, 17]. They have common features in terms of peak age of onset, distribution of lesions, and a lack of history of trauma.…”

A Case of Papular Elastorrhexis

“…To the best of our knowledge, there have been only 18 reported cases of papular elastorrhexis in literature [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . Herein, we report a case of 20-yearold-Korean woman who had asymptomatic multiple, discrete, firm, palpable white papules on the anterior chest for several months; We also include a brief literature review.…”

“…Various reports have debated about the disease spectrum between eruptive collagenoma and papular elastorrhexis 3,10 . Papular elastorrhexis is known to be more uniformly sized and smaller than eruptive collagenoma but both are found as multiple papules showing decreased elastic fibers and homogenized collagen.…”