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Hongyu Yang, MD, PhD; Iftikhar Ahmed, MD; Verghese Mathew, MD; Arnold L. Schroeter, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2006;142:343-347.

Background  Diffuse dermal angiomatosis is rare and usually considered a variant of reactive angioendotheliomatosis. It generally involves the extremities of patients with severe vascular disease and other comorbidities. Two patients with breast involvement have been described; however, neither had a relevant medical history or a vaso-occlusive disorder, but both had large pendulous breasts, and 1 was positive for IgM anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies.

Observations  A 53-year-old woman had a reticulated, erythematous plaque with superficial ulceration and underlying tender nodules on her left breast. She had a history of cardiovascular disease and was a heavy smoker. Biopsy of the lesion showed diffuse proliferation of additional endothelial cells and small bland vessels within the papillary and upper reticular dermis. Angiography showed almost complete occlusion of the subclavian artery proximally. Diffuse dermal angiomatosis was diagnosed. With isotretinoin therapy, the lesions improved. One month later, after percutaneous subclavian arterial revascularization, the lesion resolved completely. A literature review suggested that a history of heavy smoking, in addition to a history of vascular disease, may be important in the pathogenesis of diffuse dermal angiomatosis.

Conclusions  Clinical acumen is crucial to diagnose diffuse angiomatosis of the breast. Appropriate treatment to alleviate hypoxia may improve the patient's condition.

Author Affiliations: Department of Dermatology (Drs Yang, Ahmed, and Schroeter) and Division of Cardiovascular Diseases (Dr Mathew), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

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