Etretinate Therapy of Epidermal Nevi

ABSTRACT

Two cases of epidermal nevi treated with systemic etretinate are presented. Case 1, a 21-year-old female, had been suffered from brownish verrucous papules and plaques on the left inguinal area, thigh, lower leg and dorsum of the foot since her first month of life; and case 2, a 4-year-old boy, had been suffered from brownish verrucous papular plaques on the left chest, axilla and back since birth. In both cases, there was no family history of similar disease. On histopathological examination, case 1 showed the findings of epidermolytic. hyperkeratosis but case 2 did not, with the exception of clumping of keratohyaline granules. In the treatment with systemic etretinate, we observed marked clinical improvement in case 1, but not in case 2. Any particular side effects of etretinate were not observed during treatment. We consider that etretinate therapy is useful in treating epidermal nevus with epidermolytic hyperkeratosis histopathologically.