Necrobiosis Lipoidica

Cathryn Sibbald; Sophia Reid; Afsaneh Alavi

doi:10.1016/j.det.2015.03.003

Necrobiosis Lipoidica

Dermatol Clin. 2015 Jul;33(3):343-60. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2015.03.003.

Authors

Cathryn Sibbald¹, Sophia Reid², Afsaneh Alavi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine (Dermatology), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
³ Department of Medicine (Dermatology), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: afsaneh.alavi@utoronto.ca.

PMID: 26143418
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2015.03.003

Abstract

Necrobiosis lipoidica is a granulomatous condition presenting as indolent atrophic plaques, often on the lower extremities. There is a multitude of case reports suggesting possible associations and documenting different therapeutic alternatives with varied success. Important complications include ulceration and the development of squamous cell carcinoma. The disease course is often indolent and recurrent despite treatment. This article reviews the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentations, and evidence for treatment alternatives of this condition.

Keywords: Necrobiosis lipoidica; Necrobiosis lipoidica/diagnosis; Necrobiosis lipoidica/therapy; Ulcerations.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Administration, Cutaneous
Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
Calcineurin Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / etiology
Humans
Necrobiosis Lipoidica / complications
Necrobiosis Lipoidica / diagnosis*
Necrobiosis Lipoidica / drug therapy
Skin / pathology*
Skin Neoplasms / etiology
Skin Ulcer / etiology

Substances

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Calcineurin Inhibitors