Grzybowski's generalized eruptive keratocanthomas: a case report

A 47-year old woman with Grzybowski's generalised eruptive keratoacanthomas is described. There was no history of skin disease in her family, except for an uncle's basal cell carcinoma. From 1995 she developed multiple lesions of various size, ranging from hundreds of small follicular lesions to large typical keratoacanthomas up to 5 cm in diameter, scleroderma-like facial skin and marked ectropion. Histological examination of small and large skin lesions was typical of keratoacanthoma, and no human papillomavirus was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Oral treatment with acitretin had no effect. Both cyclophosphamide and methotrexate therapy were refused by the patient despite the progressive course of the disease. Blepharoplastic surgery had some effect on eye symptoms. The etiology of this rare disease is unknown, but is probably related to some genetic defect.