[Elephantiasic pretibial myxoedema: study of five cases].
BACKGROUND
Elephantiasic myxoedema is very rare. We report 5 pretibial myxoedema cases observed in the Dermatological department of Le Dantec hospital in Dakar.


METHODS
Our 5 cases were 3 women (age: 52, 45 and 18 years) and 2 men (age: 54 and 32 years).


RESULTS
All the cases were enormous, multinodular pachydermic, bilateral, elephantiasis in the low leg and associated to Graves 'disease. The duration was 4 month to 12 year. In 3 cases there was a Diamond syndrome which is a severe form. The cutaneous lesions were not influenced by medical treatment of thyroid disease. Systemic steroids achieved improvement of the elephantiasis in 1 case.


CONCLUSIONS
Elephantiasis is a very unusual presentation of pretibial myxoedema and its occurrence doesn't depend to the intensity of thyrotoxicosis and its evolution. However in our cases, it was a severity indicator factor, like Diamond syndrome. Local and systemic steroids give very rarely improvement.
Niang
S O
SO
Service de Dermatologie, CHU Le Dantec BP 3001, Dakar Sénégal. suzeoumou@yahoo.com
Diallo
M
M
Kane
A
A
Bocoum
T I
TI
Dieng
M T
MT
Ndiaye
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D018450:Disease Progression; D004604:Elephantiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009230:Myxedema / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D011241:Prednisone