title: Colchicine intoxication diagnosed in a skin biopsy: a case report.
abstract: Colchicine toxicity is a rare, but well-described clinical entity. The histopathologic findings in various organ systems have been delineated in colchicine intoxication; however, skin findings have only been described in rare cases. We present a case of colchicine toxicity diagnosed on skin biopsy in a patient presenting with mental status changes. Her cutaneous manifestation consisted of a diffuse, blanchable, violaceous, morbilliform rash involving the trunk and proximal extremities. The histopathologic findings included metaphase-arrested keratinocytes with underlying basal vacuolization. These features, considered in the setting of multiorgan dysfunction and a known exposure of colchicine, led to the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. stephen.mason@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Smoller
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Wilkerson
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine