Keratosis Pilaris With Adjacent Haemosiderin Deposition: A Clue to Scurvy
August 2021
in “
Pathology
”
TLDR A man's skin condition and poor diet led to a scurvy diagnosis.
A 50-year-old man presented with a purpuric rash initially suspected to be vasculitis. Histological examination of skin biopsies revealed keratosis pilaris with perifollicular haemosiderin deposition, suggesting scurvy. The patient had a history of poor diet and alcohol consumption, with low serum vitamin C levels (9 μmol/L). The diagnosis of scurvy was confirmed, leading to appropriate nutritional intervention. This case highlights the importance of considering scurvy in differential diagnoses and the critical role of histopathology in identifying misleading clinical presentations.
