Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita in unique association with imperforate anus and myelodysplasia

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita: Incidence of extracutaneous manifestations and a proposed clinical definition

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is a capillary malformation characterized by congenital, reticulated, well-demarcated dark blue, red-purple, or violaceous macules or plaques, with a coarse fixed livedo pattern. Nearly always, contiguous areas of skin atrophy and/or ulceration are present. CMTC is usually localized but may rarely be generalized. Such generalized cases may be a feature of Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS). The nosologic confusion surrounding the term CMTC and uncertainty about the risk of associated abnormalities hinders the appropriate workup of patients and prognostic counseling for families. We hypothesized that the risk of associated anomalies in children with localized CMTC is very low.

METHODS

We performed a literature review and retrospective review of patients with CMTC to propose a more precise clinical definition and ascertain the risk of associated anomalies.

RESULTS

We included 78 patients determined to have a diagnosis of CMTC based on consensus. The majority of patients had localized CMTC. Most patients with generalized CMTC met the criteria for the diagnosis of AOS. The associations found in patients with localized CMTC were mostly dermatological, with atrophy, ulcerations, or erosions present in 71%. Extracutaneous findings were present in 34.4% of patients and consisted mainly of extremity asymmetry (24.5%) that improved over time.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed a very low frequency of extracutaneous anomalies among patients with localized CTMC, ipsilateral limb discrepancy being the most common. We did not find a strong association with any other visceral anomalies that would justify routine evaluation in patients with localized CMTC.

[Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. Review of 33 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is an uncommon congenital vascular malformation characterized by the presence of a localized or generalized pattern, frequently asymmetrical, with reticulated, erythematous or violaceous macules, present at birth or shortly thereafter.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Retrospective study of 33 cases of CMTC diagnosed between 1994 and 2007 in our hospital. Clinical and follow-up data were recorded in all cases. In some patients additional tests were performed.

RESULTS

Most of the patients (51.5%) were female. In 87.9% of the cases lesions were observed at birth. All the cases were sporadic. CMTC was localized in 72.7% of the patients, being distributed mainly over the lower limbs. Associated anomalies were noted in 60.6%, with predominance of skin alterations (14 cases). Extracutaneous anomalies were present in 11 patients, most commonly atrophy and hypertrophy in the involved limbs. In none of the cases were there ocular or neurological manifestations. The average follow-up time was 14 months. Improvement of the lesions was observed in 45%, and in one case there was complete resolution.

CONCLUSIONS

CMTC is a malformative disease which is frequently associated with other abnormalities. An appropriate assessment and follow-up of these patients is advisable. Performing a thorough medical history, including full physical examination is necessary. If the head is affected, ocular and neurological examination should be performed. The prognosis is generally good, with a tendency to improvement or disappearance in most cases.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita and chronic autoimmune urticaria in a young man

A 20-year-old man with mental impairment, was referred to us for evaluation of recurring idiopathic urticaria episodes, characterized by a diffuse spreading of wheals and severe itching lacking response to traditional antihistamines. Upon physical examination, he showed a persistent, generalized, reticular, red-bluish vascular skin pattern in association with diffuse arborizing telangiectasias. Such lesions were present from an early age. Laboratory and instrumental tests, performed in order to exclude any condition associated with livedo did not evidence pathological results. He was found to be positive for antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA; 1:640). Histopathologically, numerous dilated capillary vessels associated with sparse extravasated erythrocytes were observed in the upper dermis. We performed an autologous serum skin test (ASST), which resulted in a positive, suggesting an autoimmune basis of the condition. On the basis of clinical and histopathological findings, and in the absence of other clinical and laboratory data suggesting other neoplastic, immunological or systemic diseases, the diagnosis of cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) associated with chronic autoimmune urticaria (CAIU) was made. CMTC is a rare congenital vascular disorder, consisting in an anomalous, persistent, red-bluish marbling of the skin, that can be associated with a wide spectrum of cutaneous and extracutaneous anomalies. In our case, neither physical examination nor instrumental investigation demonstrated any of these anomalies, with the exception of cognitive impairment. We report this case because of the rarity of a diagnosis of CMTC in an adult patient, because this condition has almost always previously been diagnosed in infancy, or it comes to observation because of the presence of associated disorders, as in our case for chronic urticaria.