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Behçet's disease with unusual cutaneous lesions
F Cantini1, C Salvarani, L Niccoli
1Unità Reumatologica, 2 Divisione di Medicina, Ospedale di Prato, Italy. fcantini@conmet.it
The Journal of Rheumatology
|December 19, 1998
Summary
Behçet's disease (BD) can manifest with unusual skin lesions on the hands and feet. This study highlights papulonodular, pernio-like nodules on the palms and fingers as a potential cutaneous manifestation of BD.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder.
- Cutaneous manifestations are common in BD, but hand and foot involvement is infrequently reported.
- Aphthous stomatitis is a hallmark symptom of BD.
Observation:
- A patient with BD presented with recurrent, painful, papulonodular cutaneous lesions on the palms and fingers.
- These lesions were described as roundish, erythematous, bluish-red nodules (0.5-1 cm) with a "pernio-like" appearance.
- The hand lesions occurred concurrently with aphthous stomatitis.
Findings:
- Histologic examination of the lesions revealed perivascular neutrophilic infiltrates.
- The clinical and histological findings suggest a specific type of cutaneous involvement in BD.
- The "pernio-like" nodules represent a distinct presentation of skin lesions in this patient.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that "pernio-like" cutaneous lesions should be considered within the spectrum of Behçet's disease manifestations.
- This expands the understanding of skin involvement in BD, particularly on the extremities.
- Recognition of these lesions may aid in earlier diagnosis and management of Behçet's disease.