STUDIES ON LICHEN MYXEDEMATOSUS (PAPULAR MUCINOSIS)

Abstract

LICHEN myxedematosus is now an accepted entity classified under the mucinexhibiting diseases of the skin. It was once regarded as rare, but a number of cases are now being recorded. Refined diagnostic procedures, a sharper clinical focus, and a reevaluation of similar previously reported cases have contributed to this increase. Furthermore, variations of this picture are now recognized, and some of these will be reported by Montgomery and Underwood¹ at the next meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. This report concerns two personally observed cases of the papular form of this disease. CLASSIFICATION AND TERMINOLOGY OF CUTANEOUS MYXEDEMATOUS STATES The diseases in which mucin is deposited in the skin may be divided into four groups. The first group shows skin changes associated with hypothyroidism. Ord² (1878) coined the word ``myxoedema'' to describe a diffuse, nonpitting, swelling of the skin associated with thyroid deficiency. Later, variants were