[Discrete papular mucinosis].

BACKGROUND: Papular mucinosis is a rare dermatological disorder characterized by papules, nodules or plaques resulting from mucin deposits in the dermis, and to a certain degree, from fibrosis, without thyroid dysfunction. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old man consulted for symmetrical papular lesions on the face, neck and shoulders. The lesions had gradually spread over some 20 years. Laboratory findings were normal. Histopathologic examination showed diffuse mucin deposits in the superficial and middle layers of the dermis, thick bands of collagen, proliferation of fibroblasts and mild perivascular infiltration by mononuclear cells. All of these findings pointed to a diagnosis of papular mucinosis. DISCUSSION: The specific interest of this case is the predominant involvement of the face and the spread of the lesions. According to the updated Rongioletti classification, this patient is presenting an atypical and novel form of papular mucinosis of a "mild papular" type with facial involvement. The 20-year history without systemic involvement or paraprotein suggests to us that this localized form will not develop into the systemic form or scleromyxoedema.