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Jonathan L. Held, MD
Department of Dermatology Nashoba Community Hospital 190 Groton Rd Ayer, MA 01432

Arch Dermatol. 1990;126(1):120.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Adriaans and duVivier¹ recently described two patients who developed papulopustular eruptions following radiation therapy for breast carcinoma. The authors conclude that radiotherapy may induce acne vulgaris at treated sites. Since acne vulgaris is known to respond to X-ray therapy (albeit with unacceptable sequelae), their ultimate claim appears questionable, particularly since neither patient's diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy.

It seems entirely possible that both patients represent instances of Grover's disease (transient acantholytic dermatosis) induced by ionizing radiation. One such patient was recently described,² with biopsy confirmation, following radiotherapy for lung carcinoma. Other entities such as eruptive vellus hair cysts and pityrosporum folliculitis may also mimic acne on the trunk.

Once again, contributors to the dermatologic literature are encouraged to support their claims with biopsy confirmation. Fixed tissue will more easily withstand the rigors of future revisionism. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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