Congenital self-healing reticulohistiocytoma. A clinical, histological and ultrastructural study

A 2 300 g male infant presented at birth with multiple, firm, bluish skin nodules, petechiae and thrombocytopenia. Physical examination was otherwise normal and no biochemical signs of organ dysfunction were found. A skin biopsy, done on the second day of life, was consistent with self-healing reticulohistiocytoma by light and electron microscopy. The nodules spontaneously resolved during the following months. At one year follow-up, he was without evidence of disease, the only sequelae being occasional discrete scarring. The major problem with this rare entity lies in its dramatic presentation and the chance of possible hazardous "overtreatment".