Monthly QUIZ
March 2003
Designed by;
O. Zargari , MD
Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran
Dr. Sedaghatpisheh
was the first correct responder of this quiz
A 51-year-old woman presented with two-week-history for tender skin lesions on her face and distal extremities.
On examination the patient was febrile and multiple papules, nodules and plaques were seen on her face and extremities. Routine laboratory examinations revealed a raised ESR and total WBC count. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. What's your diagnosis?
Dx: Sweet's syndrome
Acute febrile neutophilic dermatosis first described in 1964 by Sweet characterized by four primary features; 1. a cutaneous eruption consisting tender, raised, red plaques mainly on the face and extremities; 2.histopathologic features of dermal, non-vasculitic, neutrophilic inflammation; 3. fever and 4. peripheral neutrophilia. In about one third of cases vesicules and pustules are seen on the some of the plaques as our patient.
Most patients are women and the average at onset ranges from 30 to 60 years. Recurrent episodes are seen in up to 30% of patients.
The most effective treatment for this syndrome is systemic corticosteroids.