Pediatric erythema ab igne: clinical aspects and diagnostic issues.

Erythema ab igne is a dermatological condition resulting from repeated low-grade heat exposure (below the burning point), which can variably manifest with reticulated erythema and skin hyperpigmentation. Not infrequently, the cause of such a skin disorder is not immediately evident or reported by patients, especially if these are children. Compared to adults, erythema ab igne is rare in children and, if the general practitioners and pediatricians are not aware of this disorder, pediatric patients are often addressed to rheumatologists and/or undergo useless immunological investigations. Here, we performed a systematic case-based review, which finally included 32 cases of pediatric erythema ab igne (in addition to our new clinical report), and discussed the main clinical aspects and issues of this clinical entity in children. In detail, similarities of erythema ab igne with livedo reticularis and/or vasculitis-related rashes sometimes can lead to perform a panel of immunological investigations, which could be avoided. Indeed, our analysis emphasizes the importance of a careful and complete patient's anamnesis, including active questioning about the potential exposure to any physical agents (including heat sources) that may cause dermatological lesions. We also highlight some peculiarities in terms of location and heat injury in children developing erythema ab igne, based on the presence or absence of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of erythema ab igne in children (and especially in adolescents) is likely to increase in the next years because of the greater and sometimes inappropriate use of technological devices. Physicians should be aware of this condition in order to prevent patients from useless investigations, especially in the differential diagnosis of rheumatic disorders. A careful and complete patient's history with active questioning about the potential exposure to heating source is often decisive to diagnose erythema ab igne. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Erythema ab igne is a dermatological condition which is mainly described in adults exposed to heating source at the workplace. WHAT IS NEW: • The occurrence of erythema ab igne in children is likely to increase in the next years because of the greater and sometimes inappropriate use of technological devices. • Erythema ab igne in children can be classified in two main categories, based on the presence or absence of comorbidity. • A careful and complete anamnesis (including the active questioning about potential exposure to any heating source) is the mainstay for diagnosing erythema ab igne in children.

Erythema Ab Igne: A Clinical Review.

Erythema ab igne (EAI) is a skin condition caused by chronic heat-induced damage. The rash usually progresses over weeks to months of repeated or prolonged exposure to subthreshold-intensity infrared radiation that is not hot enough to cause a burn. The diagnosis is clinical based on patient history and physical examination, but a biopsy can reveal dilated vasculature, interface dermatitis, and pigment incontinence. Erythema ab igne initially was described in association with patients cooking over wood-fire stoves but has been shown over the decades to have a variety of causes. Herein, we describe various etiologies of EAI, including new heat-producing technologies, cultural practices, psychiatric illnesses, and even iatrogenic causes. However, the cause most commonly is application of heat for treatment of chronic pain, which may be a diagnostic clue for an underlying chronic illness. Although there are no current US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for treatment of EAI hyperpigmentation, the prognosis is excellent because removal of the heat source often will result in spontaneous resolution over time. Finally, chronic EAI rarely has been reported to evolve into squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated carcinoma, cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma, and even Merkel cell carcinoma.

Rare mimic of angiosarcoma: Erythema ab igne with reactive angiomatosis.

Erythema ab igne is an uncommon physical dermatosis that presents with localized patches of reticulated erythema and hyperpigmentation corresponding with the underlying dermal venous plexus. The rash occurs in response to chronic heat exposure that does not meet the threshold for thermal burn of the skin. The histopathologic findings are characterized by atrophy and thinning of the epidermis, focal hyperkeratosis, and keratinocyte atypia. The dermis displays dilated capillaries, evidence of pigment incontinence, and prominent elastotic material. We report a case of a 65-year-old male who presented to his primary care physician with a 1-year history of reticular erythema and hyperpigmentation with focal ulceration on his right lateral leg. Histopathology on biopsy revealed mild hyperkeratosis and focal epidermal atrophy; however, the most striking finding was a proliferation of dermal vascular spaces lined by pleomorphic endothelial cells and numerous mitotic figures, which was morphologically compatible with angiosarcoma. However, clinicopathologic correlation and immunostaining revealed an actual diagnosis of erythema ab igne with reactive angiomatosis. Reactive angiomatosis-morphologically mimicking angiosarcoma-is a rarely reported feature of severe erythema ab igne, and dermatopathologists should be aware of this possibility to avoid misdiagnosis of erythema ab igne as angiosarcoma.

Lesiones cutáneas reticuladas en un paciente con dolor lumbar / Reticular erythema in a patient with back pain

El desarrollo de las nuevas tecnologías está modificando nuestra vida en muchos aspectos, incluyendo la aparición de nuevas patologías y el cambio en las causas de otras ya conocidas. El eritema "ab igne" es un tipo de hipermelanosis producida por la exposición crónica al calor moderado, que clásicamente se ha relacionado con el uso de braseros, bolsas de agua caliente o mantas eléctricas, actualmente las podemos ver relacionadas con el empleo de ordenadores portátiles. El diagnóstico es eminentemente clínico y la sospecha diagnóstica junto con la anamnesis dirigida revelarán la exposición crónica a la radiación térmica. Es necesario tener presentes estos nuevos agentes etiológicos para evitar retrasos diagnósticos y el consiguiente empeoramiento del cuadro clínico. El conocimiento de esta entidad clínica es importante dado que se encuentra dentro del diagnóstico diferencial de la patología con lesiones reticuladas cutáneas, presente de forma habitual en ciertas enfermedades reumatológicas. Los facultativos debemos conocer esta entidad para sospecharla y advertir a nuestros pacientes del riesgo que supone el apoyo directo y continuado de una fuente de calor(AU)

El desarrollo de las nuevas tecnologías está modificando nuestra vida en muchos aspectos, incluyendo la aparición de nuevas patologías y el cambio en las causas de otras ya conocidas. El eritema "ab igne" es un tipo de hipermelanosis producida por la exposición crónica al calor moderado, que clásicamente se ha relacionado con el uso de braseros, bolsas de agua caliente o mantas eléctricas, actualmente las podemos ver relacionadas con el empleo de ordenadores portátiles. El diagnóstico es eminentemente clínico y la sospecha diagnóstica junto con la anamnesis dirigida revelarán la exposición crónica a la radiación térmica. Es necesario tener presentes estos nuevos agentes etiológicos para evitar retrasos diagnósticos y el consiguiente empeoramiento del cuadro clínico. El conocimiento de esta entidad clínica es importante dado que se encuentra dentro del diagnóstico diferencial de la patología con lesiones reticuladas cutáneas, presente de forma habitual en ciertas enfermedades reumatológicas. Los facultativos debemos conocer esta entidad para sospecharla y advertir a nuestros pacientes del riesgo que supone el apoyo directo y continuado de una fuente de calor(AU)