Degos' Acanthoma (Acanthome a Cellules Claires)

Abstract

This report gives clinical and histological details of nine new examples of Degos' acanthoma (acanthome a cellules claires). This recently described lesion has not been reported previously in the English literature. Most commonly the acanthoma presents as a small, very slow-growing, firm, solitary nodule on the lower limb in late middle-aged persons. All of our patients showed the characteristic histopathology with abrupt epidermal thickening by pale edematous malpighian cells. In addition our ninth patient showed hyperplasia of sweat ducts beneath the acanthoma. In three cases we were able to make certain histochemical observations on unfixed frozen sections. Our findings tend to support the view that this tumor is of epidermal rather than adnexal origin.