An unusual presentation of seborrheic keratoses in a man with hereditary hemochromatosis.

ABSTRACT

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive disorder that disturbs iron metabolism and results in iron deposition throughout the body. Iron accumulation in various organs may cause a wide range of systemic symptoms and cutaneous manifestations of the disease are particularly striking. Classically, hereditary hemochromatosis has been termed "bronze diabetes." Although diffuse hyperpigmentation is a well-described feature of this disease, other cutaneous symptoms may also occur, and a variety of anomalies may be observed. We present a case of long-standing hereditary hemochromatosis associated with hypopigmented plaques, which were found to be seborrheic keratoses on histologic examination. The cutaneous findings in hereditary hemochromatosis are summarized and an unusual case of seborrheic keratosis manifesting as hypopigmented plaques in a man with hereditary hemochromatosis is described. PubMed was used to search the following terms hemochromatosis, hereditary, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, keratosis, melanin, seborrheic, siderosis. Despite the generalized hyperpigmentation that is usually observed in hereditary hemochromatosis, seborrheic keratosis may present rarely as hypopigmented lesions in individuals affected by this disease. Therefore, seborrheic keratoses should be considered in the differential diagnosis in hemochromatosis patients who present with uncharacteristic pigmentation.