Focal mucinosis: clinical and histological features of an unusual condition

Mucinoses constitute a diverse group of disorders that have in common the deposition of basophilic, finely granular and stringy material in the connective tissues of the dermis (known as dermal mucinoses); this also can occur in the hair follicles (follicular mucinoses) and finally in the epidermis (epithelial mucinoses). We present the clinical and histological findings of a case of focal mucinosis in a 76-year-old man who was otherwise fit and healthy. A literature review revealed a sparse number of such cases none of which was reported in the ENT literature. Focal cutaneous mucinosis is a benign condition but the authors believe it is of local and systemic interest to the Otolaryngologist as an addition to his or her armentarium of diagnoses.