Dermatol. praxi. 2021;15(2):102-104

Cutaneous superficial angiomyxoma with a basaloid/follicular hyperplasia of the epidermis

MUDr. PhDr. Vladimír Bartoš, PhD., MPH

Martinské bioptické centrum, s. r. o., Martin

Superficial angiomyxoma is a benign skin tumor composed of a myxoid matrix and numerous thin-walled blood vessels. It may occur in sporadic form or as a part of Carney complex that is characterized by multiple cutaneous and cardiac myxomas, pigmented lesions of skin and mucosa, and endocrinologic abnormalities. Superficial angiomyxoma is sometimes accompanied by changes of overlying epidermis that may mimic another type of tumor and cause a diagnostic dilemma. The author describes a 26-year-old man with a superficial angiomyxoma arising on the chest that has been histologically accompanied by basaloid/follicular epidermal hyperplasia (BFEH). It was characterized by areas of basaloid proliferation of the epidermis and basaloid epithelial nests within the stroma resembling abortive hair follicles. Diagnostic pitfalls of BFEH mainly arise due to the fact that it is not initially considered and may be misinterpreted as a basal cell carcinoma. Although superficial angiomyxoma per se has no significant prognostic impact, its accidental detection in a younger patient should remind dermatologist of the possibility of association with Carney complex. This is one of many cases when the dermatologist may be the first who on the basis of a skin finding, reveals a serious multisystemic disease.

Keywords: angiomyxoma, basaloid, follicular epidermal hyperplasia, basal cell carcinoma.

Published: September 2, 2021  Show citation