Nevus comedonicus syndrome

BACKGROUND: Nevus comedonicus is a rare disease and diagnosis is made chiefly on clinical grounds. It may occur in isolation, or in rare cases, it may be combined with other congenital malformations to constitute nevus comedonicus syndrome. We report a case of this disease herein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A young woman aged 20 years presented with cribriform plaques since birth resulting from the juxtaposition of depressed pigmented scars and comedonic lesions. These lesions were found on the entire face, the left hemithorax and the left upper limb, with well delineated distribution stopping at the median line. The patient's history revealed congenital cataract of the left eye operated at the age of 10 years. Clinical diagnosis of nevus comedonicus was confirmed by histological examination of the skin. Laboratory screening for other associated malformations revealed no abnormalities. Oral retinoids were proposed but the patient refused all treatments. DISCUSSION: Nevus comedonicus is one of the rarest forms of cutaneous nevus. This case is original as regards the extent and topography of the nevus covering the left side of the patient's body and its association with congenital cataract potentially indicating nevus comedonicus syndrome. This syndrome is extremely rare and belongs to a large group of epidermal nevus syndromes characterised by association of nevus and extracutaneous malformations, particularly ocular, skeletal and neurological.