[Epidermodysplasia verruciformis: about a case].

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, also known as Lewandowsky-Lutz syndrome or tree man disease is a rare genetic skin disorder. It is characterized by abnormal susceptibility of the skin coating to human papillomaviruses (HPVs). It commonly affects people between the ages of 4 and 8, most often before the age of 20 years but it may exceptionally occur later. It is characterized by the appearance of scaly macules and sometimes exuberant pseudotumoral papules, mainly on hands and feet. HPV 5 and HPV-8 have been characterized in these lesions, viruses that are found in about 80% of the normal population. Other HPV types can sometimes be identified. Felix Lewandowskyand-Wilhelm Lutz provided the first clinical description of this disorder. The most frequently observed skin lesion is a macular rash similar to that of pityriasis versicolor associated with verrucous scaly papules. The risk of malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma is high. Several treatments have been tried (retinoids, interferon, cimetidine) with little or non-repeatable success. Sun protection, assiduous clinical monitoring and early excision of any lesion undergoing malignang transformation are essential. We report the case of a 30 year old man presenting with multiple verrucous lesions on limbs and trunk occurred at the age of 4 years associated with pityriasis versicolor-like lesions. Clinical examination didn't show suspicious lesions and retinoid therapy was started.