[Differential diagnosis of CRPS from a dermatologist's viewpoint]

Because of clinical similarities many dermatological diseases must be differentiated from both the acute and chronic phases of the complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The differential diagnosis of CRPS in the acute phase includes erythema migrans, early inflammatory lesions of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, hypodermitis in chronic venous insufficiency, eosinophilic fasciitis, erythromelalgia and an acute contact dermatitis. The chronic phase of CRPS with trophic disturbances of the skin, joints, and bones needs to be distinguished from the atrophic stage of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, dermatoliposclerosis and scleroderma.