Scleredema of Buschke: a case report

Scleredema of Buschke or scleredema adultorum is a rare sclerotic disorder. It has been reported as an unusual skin complication in diabetic patients with a long history of poor metabolic control. This disease is usually localized in the proximal parts of the trunk including nape of neck, back and shoulder areas. Consequently, the range of movement of the affected areas could be altered. Histologic examination of a skin biopsy shows deposits of collagen and aminoglycans in the dermis. The pathophysiology of scleredema of Buschke and its relationship with diabetes are not clearly identified. Few therapeutic options are proposed without satisfying results. We report an unusual case of a 45-year-old woman with a long history of poorly controlled diabetes type 1 who presented with indurated edema of the trunk. The presumptive diagnosis of scleredema adultorum was confirmed by the presence of typical histological findings and after eliminating other diagnosis of edema.