Follicular spicules of the nose: a peculiar cutaneous manifestation of multiple myeloma with cryoglobulinemia

J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995 May;32(5 Pt 2):834-9. doi: 10.1016/0190-9622(95)91542-7.

Abstract

We describe a patient with multiple myeloma and cryoglobulinemia who had spicules with a horny appearance in the follicular openings of the face, particularly on the nose. Histopathologic study demonstrated that these spicules consisted of eosinophilic homogeneous deposits in the intercellular spaces between keratinocytes in the upper layers of the follicular infundibulum. Direct immunofluorescence, ultrastructural, and biochemical investigations revealed that these eosinophilic deposits were cryoprecipitates composed of IgG-kappa with electrophoretic characteristics identical to those of the paraprotein present in the serum of the patient. Hence we believe that these lesions are best referred to as pseudohyperkeratotic spicules of the nose, and that they are a characteristic cutaneous manifestation of patients with multiple myeloma and cryoglobulinemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cryoglobulinemia / complications*
  • Hair Diseases / complications
  • Hair Diseases / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications*
  • Nose Diseases / complications
  • Nose Diseases / immunology
  • Nose Diseases / pathology
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin Diseases / complications*
  • Skin Diseases / immunology
  • Skin Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G