title: Diffuse dermal angiomatosis of the breast: clinicopathologic study of 5 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diffuse dermal angiomatosis (DDA) is a rare skin condition considered to be a type of reactive angioendotheliomatosis. Histologic features are quite characteristic. It has been reported in association with vaso-occlusive disease, trauma, or underlying hypercoagulability. In the past, it was thought to be most common on the lower extremities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and histologic features of 5 patients with DDA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and histologic features of 5 patients with DDA were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five women (47-58 years old) had DDA of the breast. Histologic examination showed a diffuse proliferation of benign endothelial cells between the collagen bundles throughout the dermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main limitation of our study is the limited number of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involvement of the breast is much more common than previously reported. Smoking seems to be a strong risk factor for the disease. Revascularization, oral corticosteroids, and oral anticoagulation have all been reported to be somewhat successful in the treatment of DDA of the breast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Megha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tollefson
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Marian T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Rochelle R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Torgerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address: bridges.alina@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Alina G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bridges
mesh_terms: D000798:Angiomatosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001706:Biopsy; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020405:Dermis / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: breast; breast reduction mammaplasty; dermal angiomatosis; reactive angioendotheliomatosis; vascular proliferation; vaso-occlusive disease