title: Chloracne: histopathologic findings in one case.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chloracne is an acneiform eruption due to poisoning by halogenated aromatic compounds having a specific molecular shape. This condition is always a symptom of systemic poisoning by chemical chloracnegens and not just a cutaneous disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have studied a patient with severe chloracne who showed cutaneous lesions involving mostly the face and the axillae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic study of the facial lesions demonstrated that almost every vellus hair follicle was involved, showing a dilated infundibulum filled by a keratotic plug. This keratotic material was mostly composed of orthokeratotic basket-weave basophilic corneocytes, namely infundibular keratin, although there were also some dilated infundibula containing eosinophilic laminated or granular sebum at their center. Small infundibular cysts were more numerous than comedones. Mature and well-developed sebaceous glands were seen at the base of many of the dilated infundibula and no squamous metaplasia of the sebaceous glands or ducts could be demonstrated. Hyperpigmentation of the lesions resulted from hyperproduction of melanin by a normal number of melanocytes along the basal layer of the epidermis and infundibular epithelium. Abundant melanin granules also impregnated the corneocytes of the infundibular plugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the notion that tiny infundibular cysts rather than comedones represent the basic lesions of chloracne.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fariña
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Renedo
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Requena
mesh_terms: D017486:Acneiform Eruptions / Q000473:pathology*; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure