title: Fibromatosis of the hand associated with EMO syndrome: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  EMO syndrome, defined as a triad including exophthalmus, pretibial myxedema and osteoarthropathia, is a rare condition in patients suffering from hyperthyreosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We here describe an interesting case of EMO syndrome associated with unilateral fibromatosis of the hand and an initial stage of generalized myxedema of the skin. To our knowledge a similar case has not yet been described in literature though reports about associated fibromatosis, e.g. located retroperitoneally, already exist. Familiar explanations include its initiation by autoimmune processes or aberrant T-cell cytokine stimulation leading to an overwhelming production of glycosaminoglycans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interpreting our case in context with previous reports we conclude that associated fibromatosis induced by autoimmune processes may affect a variety of different localizations and therefore requires careful monitoring. A therapeutical attempt by using UVA1 irridation for pretibial myxedema remained without a satisfying regression.
authors.affiliation: Dept, of Dermatology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gudrunstr, 56, D-44791 Bochum, Germany. Carolin.Appelhans@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Appelhans
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breuckmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altmeyer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreuter
mesh_terms: D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000150:complications*; D005350:Fibroma / Q000150:complications*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009230:Myxedema / Q000150:complications*; D010004:Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications*; D013577:Syndrome