Elephantiasis nostras

Elephantiasis nostras is one of the most striking yet, at the same time, one of the most poorly understood dermatologic entities. We present a report on two patients with this disorder, each of whom had a marked enlargement of a lower extremity following recurrent attacks of infection and/or ulceration. In one case obesity and chronic cardiac disease may have been aggravating factors. In the second, the enlargement and deformity was severe enough to require amputation of the foot and lower leg. Study of these and other cases may lead to further insight into the pathogenesis of elephantiasis nostras.