Wegener's granulomatosis: a new entity in the growing differential diagnosis of Degos' disease

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 Jul;34(5):e1-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.02953.x. Epub 2009 Nov 24.

Abstract

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multisystemic vasculitis, with skin involvement in 14% of cases and with palpable purpura, subcutaneous nodules and necrotic papules as the common features.(1) We present a patient diagnosed with WG who had multiple whitish papules similar to those of malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos' disease), which appeared during a flare of his disease. Lesions of malignant atrophic papulosis are said to be pathognomonic; nevertheless, various diseases with similar clinical lesions have been described. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such lesions in a patient with WG, and we suggest WG should be included in the differential diagnosis of Degos' disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / diagnosis*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malignant Atrophic Papulosis / diagnosis*
  • Malignant Atrophic Papulosis / pathology