Fox-Fordyce Disease

Overview

Fox-Fordyce disease is a relatively rare disease with typical clinical and histopathologicalpicture. Its morphology and clinical course is shown on 5 clinical cases. Pathogenetically it ischaracterized by an inflammatory reaction due to an occlusion of apocrine gland ducts ending inhair follicle infundibulum by keratotic plug. Lesions are present in armpits, nipples and pubic area.Primary lesion are formed by non-confluent skin color papules, which can be lightly or deeple redin cases of accentuated inflammation. In 4 of 5 our female-patients the lesions were subjectivelyasymptomatic. In 4 patients histopathological examination was performed. The basic finding washyperkeratotic plug in hair follicle infundibulum in combination with spongiosis or vesicle in thehair follicle wall under the plug. In 2 patients we observed also dilatation of an apocrine gland duct.For establishing histopathological diagnosis is, usually, necessary thorough serial cutting of a biopticmaterial, but microscopical picture is well reflecting the pathogenetical nature of the lesion andit is possible to consider it pathognomic.

Key words:
Fox-Fordyce disease - clinical picture - histopathological findings