brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(10):1157-1159

Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations to disclose.

A 29-year-old man presented with a one-year history of progressive discoloration and thickening of the skin on both shins. He also had exophthalmos in both eyes, heat intolerance, slight tremor, diarrhea, and unintentional weight loss.

Physical examination revealed violaceous to yellow nodules on the anterior surfaces of the bilateral lower legs (see accompanying figure) that were boggy and nontender. The nodules had a peau d'orange texture.

Question

Based on the patient's history and physical examination, which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Discussion

The answer is D: pretibial myxedema (thyroid dermopathy) secondary to Graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the excessive release of thyroid hormone through the action of thyrotropin receptor antibodies. Signs and symptoms include nervousness, heat intolerance, palpitations, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, proptosis, and tremor.1 The classic triad of Graves disease is hyperthyroidism, exophthalmos, and pretibial myxedema.

Pretibial myxedema occurs in up to 5 percent of patients with Graves disease.2 The cause is the immunologically mediated accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the dermis.2 Pretibial myxedema is typically located in the pretibial region but can involve the dorsal feet, upper extremities, or face. It usually manifests as indurated nodules or plaques that are flesh-colored to violaceous.3 A peau d'orange appearance is possible because of the prominence of hair follicles. Less common presentations of pretibial myxedema include a diffuse brawny edema without nodules, and a verrucous form that may affect the entire extremity (elephantiasic pretibial myxedema).4 Severe pretibial myxedema is also associated with thyroid acropachy, which is characterized by digital clubbing, soft tissue swelling with pain in the hands and feet, and periosteal thickening.5

Treatment involves normalizing thyroid function, avoiding exacerbating factors such as trauma and smoking, and administering topical or intralesional corticosteroids.6 Pretibial myxedema may be chronic, and one-half of patients have minimal or no improvement over time.3

Elephantiasis nostras is a rare, deforming condition caused by chronic lymphedema and recurrent inflammation. It leads to hyperkeratotic plaques and nodules in a cobblestone pattern on the lower extremities.7 There are no associated systemic symptoms.

Erythema nodosum is an inflammatory process of the subcutaneous fat that presents as symmetric, tender, erythematous, subcutaneous nodules on both lower extremities. Although the condition is most often idiopathic or postinfectious, assessment for an underlying systemic disease or offending medication may be warranted. Possible triggers include sulfonamides, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, sarcoidosis, streptococcal pharyngitis, tuberculosis, and ulcerative colitis.8

Lichen myxedematosus (papular mucinosis) is a rare inflammatory disease of fibroblastic proliferation and dermal mucin deposition. It produces a fleshy, papular skin eruption that may coalesce into plaques, most commonly on the face, dorsal hands, and extensor surface of the extremities.9 The condition is usually associated with monoclonal gammopathy. Systemic symptoms, if present, affect the gastrointestinal, pulmonary, muscular, and neurologic systems.10

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease, with skin involvement in approximately 25 percent of cases.11 The cutaneous manifestation varies, including papules, plaques, nodules, scars, hypopigmented macules, erythroderma, or ulcerations affecting any part of the body.11 Up to 5 percent of patients with sarcoidosis have subcutaneous nodules (Darier-Roussy sarcoid), often involving the extremities.12 Characteristic noncaseating granulomas are visible on histopathologic examination. Systemic symptoms are typically pulmonary, ocular, or neurologic.13

ConditionCharacteristics
Elephantiasis nostrasHyperkeratotic plaques and nodules in a cobblestone pattern on lower extremities
No systemic symptoms
Erythema nodosumSymmetric, tender, erythematous, subcutaneous nodules on both lower extremities
Often idiopathic and postinfectious; possible triggers include sulfonamides, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, sarcoidosis, streptococcal pharyngitis, tuberculosis, and ulcerative colitis
Lichen myxedematosusFleshy papules or plaques on the face, dorsal hands, or extensor surface of extremities
Gastrointestinal, pulmonary, muscular, or neurologic symptoms may occur
Pretibial myxedemaIndurated nodules or plaques on the lower extremities that are flesh-colored to violaceous
Endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, ocular, or neurologic symptoms may occur
SarcoidosisVaried manifestations, including papules, plaques, nodules, scars, hypopigmented macules, erythroderma, or ulcerations affecting any part of the body
Systemic symptoms are typically pulmonary, ocular, or neurologic

The editors of AFP welcome submissions for Photo Quiz. Guidelines for preparing and submitting a Photo Quiz manuscript can be found in the Authors' Guide at https://www.aafp.org/afp/photoquizinfo. To be considered for publication, submissions must meet these guidelines. Email submissions to afpphoto@aafp.org.

This series is coordinated by John E. Delzell Jr., MD, MSPH, associate medical editor.

A collection of Photo Quiz published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/photoquiz

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.