The Importance of Collagen Tissue in Papular Elastorrhexis, Eruptive Collagenoma, and Nevus Anelasticus

BACKGROUND: Papular elastorrhexis (PE), eruptive collagenoma (EC), and nevus anelasticus (NA) are described as multiple small papules with decrease, fragmentation, or lack of dermal elastic fibers. These diseases are suggested to be the same entity. The change of collagen fibers in the conditions has not been addressed to date. OBJECTIVE: We compared the clinical features of the 3 diseases and investigated changes in the collagen fibers involved. METHODS: Twenty-four cases of PE, 12 cases of EC, and 2 cases of NA found in PubMed and the Korean database were reviewed. Changes in dermal collagen fibers in 10 cases with histological figures were investigated. RESULTS: There were significant similarities between the 3 entities in terms of their clinical features. Four patients with PE and 2 with EC with fine, dense collagen fibers were women who had multiple white to hypopigmented, slightly indurated to firm, millimeter-size papules on the trunk and/or extremities that progressed gradually after developing in the patients' first to third decades. CONCLUSION: The 3 conditions are the same clinical entity in our opinion; such cases with fine, dense collagen manifest typical features.