Papular Elastorrhexis

Abstract

Papular elastorrhexis is a rare disorder that occurs predominantly during adolescence. We report 5 patients with asymptomatic white, nonfollicular, firm papules scattered over the trunk and extremities. Histologically, the papules demonstrate focal areas of collagen homogenization with decreased and fragmented elastic fibers. The clinical differential diagnosis includes papular acne scars, dermatofibrosis lenticularis disseminata (Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome), cutaneous collagenoma and nevus anelasticus, but histology clearly separates papular elastorrhexis from the other entities.

Papular Elastorrhexis: A Case and Differential Diagnosis

“…PE is regarded as a variant of elastic tissue nevi7,8; however, there is still controversy with regard to whether PE should be categorized as a variant of elastic tissue nevi or as a distinctive entity2,9. Several important disorders require both clinical and histological differentiation from PE (Table 1).…”

“…It commonly occurs during or after adolescence with no history of trauma or local inflammation1,2. Since Bordas et al1 first used the term PE in 1987, approximately 20 cases have been reported in the literature and the exact origin of this condition remains unknown.…”

The Importance of Collagen Tissue in Papular Elastorrhexis, Eruptive Collagenoma, and Nevus Anelasticus

“…Twenty-four cases of PE 1 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 , 12 cases of EC 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 , and 2 cases of NA 7 33 were found. One case of EC 24 was reported in Korean in the Korean literature, and the others were in English.…”

Rediscovering perifollicular elastolysis: A hitherto undocumented entity in India

“…It has been variably interpreted as a variant of nevus anelasticus, a connective tissue nevus or an incomplete form of Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome. [ 6 ]…”

“…The histology of these lesions, irrespective of their nomenclature, uniformly shows a decrease fragmentation or even near total loss of elastin tissue. [ 2 3 4 6 7 ] Varadi and Saqueton who suggested the term. PE documented an elastase producing strain of Staphylococcal epidermidis from an affected hair follicle incriminating the elastase for degrading the elastin tissue.…”