title: Dermatitis cruris pustulosa et atrophicans--a frequent but poorly understood tropical skin condition--a case report from Burkina Faso.
abstract: Dermatitis cruris pustulosa et atrophicans (DCPA) is a benign inflammatory skin disease of the younger population in the tropics. Although this pustular skin condition of particular topography is frequently seen by dermatologists in tropical countries, its origin remains unknown. We report the case of a young woman with DCPA associated with prurigo nodularis. A bacterial origin has not been demonstrated in this case. Histology showed an intraepidermal neutrophilic pustule with dermal and subcutaneous infiltration by neutrophils and eosinophils forming flame figures. Different pathogenic hypotheses are discussed with special regard to a potential relationship between DCPA and eosinophilic cellulitis.
authors.affiliation: Réseau Dermatrop, France, Pathology Department, Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, France. guidobens@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bens
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diatto
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Preney
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Darie
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Géniaux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002050:Burkina Faso; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009504:Neutrophils; D011536:Prurigo / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*