A 63-year-old male patient suffered from myalgia, arthralgia cough and erythematous macules, with confluence to the thorax, limbs, thighs and the scrotum. The erythematous macules evolved to blisters with a positive Nikolsky's sign. A cutaneous biopsy revealed satellite cell necrosis. Administration of immunoglobulins resulted in a favourable evolution of the cutaneous lesions. Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare and potentially fatal mucocutaneous disease. Early recognition, diagnosis and therapy are of the utmost importance.
Learning points: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare and potentially fatal mucocutaneous disease.TEN requires early diagnosis, appropriate workup and treatment to minimise potential morbidity and mortality.Today immunoglobulin therapy is the most accepted form of treatment for TEN.
Keywords: Nikolsky’s sign; Toxic epidermal necrolysis; erythematous macules.