OSTEOMA CUTIS AS A RESULT OF SEVERE ACNE VULGARIS OF LONG DURATION

Abstract

OSTEOMA cutis has been rated as a rare condition. When it occurs as a metaplastic sequela of preexisting lesions like nevi and epitheliomas or of chronic trauma as in myositis ossificans or as a neoplasm in an apparently normal locus, it does indeed seem to be a rare event. There is, however, a form of osteoma cutis which follows prolonged severe acne with scarring and is consequently rather common.¹ Since uncovering a case of this condition in the skin of the face² of a patient with considerable scarring from severe acne vulgaris of long duration, I have examined roentgenologically the facial skin of several other patients of similar appearance. Roentgenographic evidence of calcareous deposits was found in four of six such examinations. In three of these the deposits were very sparse and would have been missed if not specifically sought. In 1 case, however, there was a