Unilateral Acroangiodermatitis: From Histopathologic Confirmation to Treatment with PDL.

Abstract

Acroangiodermatitis is an uncommon angioproliferative dermatosis, related to chronic circulatory diseases, such as chronic venous insufficiency and arteriovenous malformations. We describe the case of a 32-year-old healthy male presenting with a pruritic, brownish lesion on the dorsal surface of the left foot, evolving for ten years. Physical examination revealed a brown plaque, with a verrucous surface, on the distal dorsum and medial border of the left foot. Histopathology disclosed a marked neovascularization of the upper dermis, associated with erythrocyte extravasation and hemosiderin deposition. Immunochemistry for HHV-8 was negative. CT angiography revealed multiple serpiginous vessels on the dorsum of the left foot, suggestive of a venous malformation. The diagnosis of acroangiodermatitis was established and the patient started topical corticosteroids and compression stockings, without improvement. Although scarcely described in the literature, treatment with PDL was proposed given the vascular proliferation confined to the papillary dermis. After two sessions, a significant improvement was observed. This case emphasises dermatopathology as the gold standard for the differential diagnosis with Kaposi sarcoma. In addition, it highlights PDL as a promising therapeutic option, based on the superficial histopathological location.