CASE REPORTS   

Esperienze Dermatologiche 2011 June;13(2):79-83

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

A case of confluent and reticulate papillomatosis (Gougerot-Carteaud Syndrome)

Celasco M. ¹, Zavattaro E. ¹, Veronese F. ¹, Bornacina G. ¹, Valente G. ², Colombo E. ¹

¹ Clinica Dermatologica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte, Orientale Amedeo Avogadro, Novara, Italia 2 Clinica di Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro, Novara, Italia

Confluent and reticulate papillomatosis (Gougerot-Carteaud Syndrome) (CRP) is a rare pathology the cause of which is still unknown. It is characterised by the presence of keratotic papules which join up to form lesions with a reticulated pattern. The most accredited aetiopathogenesis is that linked to a keratinisation disturbance. The possible role of yeast infection and whether or not this may be the primum movens of the pathology or if it is a secondary event, is much debated. A boy of 13 with a typical CRP picture confirmed by histological examination was brought to our attention. He also presented fungine spores while direct mycological and culture examinations were negative. Treatment with itraconazole did not produce improvements while the use of tretinoin improved the clinical picture. The presence of the spores only at histological examination did not allow us to exclude the role of the fungus as a causal agent, although the clinical improvement obtained with tretinoin alone would suggest a keratinisation defect.