Case Report

Primary Atrophic Solitary Morphea Profunda
Elhem Khelifa^a, Isabelle Masouyé^a, Pierre Chavaz^a, Herman Hauser^b, Jean-Pierre Grillet^c, Luca Borradori<sup>a

a</sup>Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital of Geneva,
^bRadiology Department, Hospital de la Tour, and
^cdermatological private practice, Geneva, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Dermatology 2008;217:207-210 (DOI: 10.1159/000141959)

  Key Words

• Morphea profunda
• Lipoatrophy
• Scleroderma
• Vaccination

  Abstract

Solitary morphea profunda (SMP) is a distinct form of localized scleroderma, a cutaneous disorder of unknown origin. Here, we describe a patient presenting with noninflammatory cupuliform depressed plaques, without any significant skin induration, pigmentation or texture change, that appeared on the left shoulder at a site of previous intramuscular vaccination. Light microscopy studies revealed excessive dermal collagen deposition with thickened hyalinized collagen bundles. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated tissue fibrosis with thinning of the subcutaneous fat tissue and involvement of the adjacent deltoid muscle, which was confirmed by electromyographic tests. Borrelia serology was negative. Our observation of SMP differed from previously described cases, since it mimicked localized lipoatrophy. Our observation highlights the wide spectrum of clinical presentations of localized scleroderma. The latter should be considered in the presence of lipoatrophy-like lesions for proper workup and therapy.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Elhem Khelifa
Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital of Geneva
24, rue Micheli-du-Crest
CH-1211 Geneva 14 (Switzerland)
Tel. +33 669 354 446, Fax +41 223 729 470, E-Mail elhem_khelifa@yahoo.com

  Article Information

Received: November 19, 2007
Accepted: February 2, 2008
Published online: July 3, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 26