Pigmentatio maculosa eruptiva idiopathica: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND

Pigmentatio maculosa eruptiva idiopathica is a rare pediatric disease characterized by asymptomatic, brownish macules involving the neck and trunk with no preceding inflammatory process or history of drug exposure.

METHODS

A 9-year-old girl presented with brown-gray, nonconfluent, asymptomatic macules on the trunk, neck, and limbs, ranging from 5 to 30 mm in diameter. The macules appeared suddenly with no lesions preceding their occurrence. Histopathologic examination showed basal cell layer hyperpigmentation, and abundant melanophages with a mild perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the papillary dermis.

RESULTS

The lesions disappeared spontaneously 1.5 years later with no therapy. No relapse occurred.

CONCLUSION

Pigmentatio maculosa eruptiva idiopathica must be differentiated from other skin disorders with hyperpigmentation in pediatric practice in order to avoid unnecessary treatment, as spontaneous resolution is expected. Following a literature review, we underline the importance of spontaneous regression as an additional clinical feature for this disease.