Juxta-clavicular beaded lines: a subepidermal proliferation of sebaceous gland elements

Juxta-clavicular beaded lines typical arise at puberty as an asymptomatic, linear papular eruption involving the neck and supraclavicular areas. This entity appears to be more common in blacks than caucasians, and a female predominance has been noted. Microscopically, the papules noted clinically appear secondary to sebaceous gland hyperplasia, which is particularly prominent in the immediate subepidermal zone. Mild papillated epidermal hyperplasia may be observed. Whereas many regard this entity as an anatomic variant of normal, it may be confused clinically and histologically with a number of pathologic processes. A case of juxtaclavicular beaded lines in a 14-year-old caucasian girl is presented.