title: Repigmentation of leucodermic defects in piebaldism by dermabrasion and thin split-thickness skin grafting in combination with minigrafting.
abstract: The depigmented skin areas in piebaldism are unresponsive to medical or light treatment. In 12 adult patients (eight women and four men), a method using dermabrasion and thin split-skin grafts was applied initially. Residual leucodermic areas were subsequently treated using a minigrafting method. Additional irradiation with ultraviolet A (10 J/cm2) was performed to enhance melanocyte migration. This combined surgical therapy led to 95-100% repigmentation of the leucodermic defects. A perfect colour match with the surrounding non-lesional skin was achieved in all cases. Complications were minor and easy to correct. Dermabrasion and split-skin grafting followed by minigrafting should be considered as the first choice of therapy in piebaldism.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for Pigmentary Disorders, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam. snip-ww@knoware.nl
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Njoo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nieuweboer-Krobotova
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Westerhof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003869:Dermabrasion; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016116:Piebaldism / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy