Linear focal elastosis is an uncommon disorder typically occurring in the back region, which clinically presents as band-like striae, having a histological focal increase in abnormal elastic fibers. Until now, linear focal elastosis occurring in patients with a family history have been rarely reported. Here, we present one such case, of linear focal elastosis which occurred in a brother and sister.
Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Siblings

Linear focal elastosis is a new disease that clinically shows asymptomatic, palpable, striae-like lines extending horizontally across the middle and lower back and histologically a focal increase in elastic fibers separating the dermal collagen bundles. We report typical cases of linear focal elastosis clinically and histologically in three teenaged males.
Collagen ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Male

Linear focal elastosis is characterized clinically by horizontal yellowish palpable striae on the lower back and histologically fragmentation or aggregation of elastic fibers. We herein report four cases of linear focal elastosis in male patients. They were 12 to 17 years old and the disease duration was 1 to 3 years. We suggest linear focal elastosis is a variant of striae distensae affecting elastic fibers.
Adolescent ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Male ; Striae Distensae

Tumor of follicular infundibulum is the term coined by Mehregan and Butler in 1961 for a benign hyperplastic lesion that extends from the follicular infundibulum as an epithelial plate with underlying elastic fiber network. This tumor appears as a slightly elevated keratotic lesion and is characterized histologically by proliferation of follicular sheath epithelium in the form of a thin subepidermal plate. We present a typical case of tumor of follicular infundibulum in the left shoulder area of 74 year-old-man. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a solitary tumor of follicular infundibulum in Korea.
Elastic Tissue ; Epithelium ; Korea ; Numismatics ; Shoulder

Linear focal elastosis (LFE) is characterized by several asymptomatic, yellow, palpable, irregularly indurated, striae-like lines extending horizontally across the middle and lower back. A focal increase in elastic fibers is a hallmark of the disease as seen from biopsy specimens. The pathogenesis of LFE is unclear, as is the association between LFE and striae distensae (SD). However, the prevailing opinion is that LFE represents an excessive regenerative process of elastic fibers and is analogous to keloidal repair of SD. Although the timing of onset of LFE and SD was not synchronous in our patient, the triggering factor was the same, which was the growth spurt. This case is supporting the putative association between LFE and SD.
Biopsy ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Keloid ; Striae Distensae

BACKGROUND: Papular elastorrhexis (PE), eruptive collagenoma (EC), and nevus anelasticus (NA) are described as multiple small papules with decrease, fragmentation, or lack of dermal elastic fibers. These diseases are suggested to be the same entity. The change of collagen fibers in the conditions has not been addressed to date. OBJECTIVE: We compared the clinical features of the 3 diseases and investigated changes in the collagen fibers involved. METHODS: Twenty-four cases of PE, 12 cases of EC, and 2 cases of NA found in PubMed and the Korean database were reviewed. Changes in dermal collagen fibers in 10 cases with histological figures were investigated. RESULTS: There were significant similarities between the 3 entities in terms of their clinical features. Four patients with PE and 2 with EC with fine, dense collagen fibers were women who had multiple white to hypopigmented, slightly indurated to firm, millimeter-size papules on the trunk and/or extremities that progressed gradually after developing in the patients' first to third decades. CONCLUSION: The 3 conditions are the same clinical entity in our opinion; such cases with fine, dense collagen manifest typical features.
Collagen* ; Elastic Tissue ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus*

BACKGROUND: Papular elastorrhexis (PE), eruptive collagenoma (EC), and nevus anelasticus (NA) are described as multiple small papules with decrease, fragmentation, or lack of dermal elastic fibers. These diseases are suggested to be the same entity. The change of collagen fibers in the conditions has not been addressed to date. OBJECTIVE: We compared the clinical features of the 3 diseases and investigated changes in the collagen fibers involved. METHODS: Twenty-four cases of PE, 12 cases of EC, and 2 cases of NA found in PubMed and the Korean database were reviewed. Changes in dermal collagen fibers in 10 cases with histological figures were investigated. RESULTS: There were significant similarities between the 3 entities in terms of their clinical features. Four patients with PE and 2 with EC with fine, dense collagen fibers were women who had multiple white to hypopigmented, slightly indurated to firm, millimeter-size papules on the trunk and/or extremities that progressed gradually after developing in the patients' first to third decades. CONCLUSION: The 3 conditions are the same clinical entity in our opinion; such cases with fine, dense collagen manifest typical features.
Collagen* ; Elastic Tissue ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus*

BACKGROUND: The elastic fiber network undergoes profound alterations during the ageing process. OBJECTIVE: Our study compared two type ageing process of elastic fiber; the first, age associated, is found in skin from a nonexposed area; the second, related to sun exposure, is found in an exposed area. METHODS: In order to differentiate these two forms of ageing process, the author tried to compare length, breadth, perimeter, shape factor and amount of elastic fiber between the exposed and nonexposed skin of 240 Korean men using computerized digital image analysis system. RESULTS: Amount and breadth of elastic fibers are significantly different between exposed and nonexposed area in the same age group. After the fifties, the length of each elastic fiber in exposed areas are significantly longer than those of nonexposed area. Breadth is more sensitive than length to photoageing. The amount of elastic fiber is variable in nonexposed areas but increased steadily according to age in exposed areas. CONCLUSION: The amount and four morphological factors of elastic fiber show there are significant differences between photoageing and chronological ageing process.
Elastic Tissue* ; Humans* ; Male ; Skin* ; Solar System

Acrokeratoelastoidosis of Costa is a rare palmoplantar keratoderma with autosomal dominant inheritance. It is clinically charaeterized by small, firm, yellowish, shiny, translucent papules occumng over the dorsal hands, the knuckles, and the lateral margine of the palms and soles. Histologically, the characteristic features are hyperkeratosis, aeanthosis, and most strikingly, fragmentation of coarse elastic fibers within the dermis. The lesions usually begin in early childhood and progress slowly. We herein report two familial cases of acrokeratoelastoidosis of Costa showing typical clinic1 and histopathological features.
Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Hand ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; Wills*

Keratoelastoidosis marginalis is a rare skin disorder. Clinically it consists of small, firm, linear hyperkeratotic papules, characteristically along the margin of the hands. Histopathologically it shows hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, solar elastosis, and degeneration of collagen and elastic fibers. Long-term ultraviolet radiation exposure and chronic trauma are considered to be precipitating factors. Herein, we report a case of keratoelastoidosis marginalis and a review of the related literature.
Collagen ; Elastic Tissue ; Hand ; Precipitating Factors ; Skin