Acquired facial angiokeratoma

Abstract

Angiokeratomas are vascular dilations (telangiectasic papules) with keratotic surface caused by capillary dilation in the dermal papilla due to venous hyperpression, vascular malformation or a capillary fragility. They most commonly are benign and just unsightly and they may sometimes reveal a dreaded overload disease known as Fabry Disease. Here we report the case of a 56-year old patient, with no notable medical history, presenting with nontraumatic, nonpruritic, bleeding on contact, grouped cluster erythematous papules without extracutaneous manifestations on the left malar region, that had occurred 4 months before. Diascopy revealed partially emptied papules with keratotic surface. Kaposi syndrome, melanoma, carcinoma or angiokeratoma were suspected. Histological examination revealed angiokeratoma. Treatment based on electrocoagulation was proposed to the patient.