[Neutrophilic sebaceous adenitis in a woman]

Neutrophilic sebaceous adenitis is a very rare disease with only three reported cases, all involving men. Herein, we describe the first case in a woman.

A 25-year-old woman presented erythematous and indurated circinate plaques on the face, upper chest and upper limbs, associated with some pustules. The eruption started immediately after sunny holidays and extended progressively with low-grade fever and axillar polyadenopathies. Blood tests showed moderately elevated neutrophils and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Cutaneous biopsy showed an inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes and neutrophils with perisebaceous distribution, infiltrating sebaceous glands with focal necrosis of sebocytes. Treatment consisting of topical steroid and photoprotection quickly resulted in regression of the lesions, with no relapse after two months.

Classically neutrophilic sebaceous adenitis presents as erythematous and violaceous, indurated, circinate plaques with raised edges on the face and upper chest. Spontaneous regression is frequently reported. Histological examination is typical with an inflammatory infiltrate containing neutrophils with primarily perisebaceous distribution and penetrating sebaceous glands in places with necrosis of sebocytes. The aetiology is unknown but in a recent case, photodermatosis was suspected because lesions occurred every summer. This hypothesis is consistent with our observation but the presence of lesions on non-exposed areas raises questions about heat as a possible trigger factor in this disorder.