This article has been peer reviewed and approved by Michael Fisher, MD, Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Review date: March 2010.
Dr. Higgins reports no conflict of interest. Dr. Whitworth is a consultant for Galderma Laboratories, LP. This relationship is not relevant to this article. The authors report no discussion of off-label use. Dr. Fisher reports no conflict of interest. The staff of CCME of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Cutis® have no conflicts of interest with commercial interest related directly or indirectly to this educational activity. Dr. Higgins was Chief Resident and Dr. Whitworth is Director of Mohs Surgery, both from Oakwood Southshore Medical Center, Trenton, Michigan. Dr. Higgins currently is Clinical Assistant Professor, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing.
Heather J. Higgins, DO; Michael W. Whitworth, DO
Late-onset focal dermal elastosis is a condition characterized by a localized increase in healthy-appearing elastic tissue in the mid and deep reticular dermis. The condition may clinically mimic pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) and linear focal elastosis. We report a case of an 87-year-old woman who presented with a markedly thickened, yellow, pruritic plaque on the posterior neck and discuss the clinical and histopathologic distinctions between late-onset focal dermal elastosis, PXE, and linear focal elastosis.
