Multiple keratoacanthoma. Report of a case following the administration of mercurial diuretics.

Abstract

During the past few years an increasing interest in keratoacanthoma has been developing. The apparent rarity of the multiple self-healing epithelioma of Ferguson-Smith type has occasioned several recent case reports. 1-4 Ephraim and Kaufman 1 reported the 24th case in February, 1958. On the other hand, the so-called solitary or localized form of keratoacanthoma is not an unusual disorder. Recently, a patient came under my observation with multiple keratoacanthoma associated with an erythema multiforme type of dermatitis medicamentosa resulting from mercurial diuretics. A thorough search of the literature has revealed no previous cases of keratoacanthoma associated with either dermatitis medicamentosa or erythema multiforme. Report of Case On Oct. 7, 1957, a 78-year-old Caucasian woman of Anglo-Saxon descent was first observed in the Dermatology clinic of the Los Angeles County General Hospital because of an extensive eruption and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Past History.— For the preceding two years she had been treated for congestive heart failure; previously, she had been in good health. Medication consisted of digitalis, meralluride sodium (Mercuhydrin, a parenteral mercurial diuretic),