Korean J Dermatol.  2016 Aug;54(7):566-570.

Proposal of the New Term 'Leukoderma Nuchae' to Describe the Whitish Patch in the Spared Zone of Poikiloderma of Civatte to Differentiate It from Vitiligo

• Moon KR
• Yun SJ
• Lee JB
• Kim SJ
• Won YH
• Lee SC

Abstract

Poikiloderma of Civatte (PC) is a common, acquired condition that affects the face, neck, and upper chest of elderly persons due to life-long sun exposure. Poikiloderma describes skin manifestations of atrophic and telangiectatic lesions with pigmentary changes. We experienced three cases of patients who visited our department due to whitish patches on the anterior neck, which had been treated as vitiligo at private dermatological clinics. The patches mimicked vitiligo to the naked eye due to their color and relatively well-demarcated margin, but they were not accentuated under Wood's light. On MART-1 staining, there was no loss of melanocytes in the basal cell layer of the epidermis. Leukoderma on the anterior neck might be produced due to contrast with the neighboring skin showing PC. Based on our experiences, we propose a new dermatological term, 'leukoderma nuchae (LN)', to describe the spared zone of PC, to aid in differentiating this condition from vitiligo.

Keyword

Leukoderma nuchae; Pigmentation disorder; Poikiloderma of Civatte; Submental area; Vitiligo

MeSH Terms

Aged
Epidermis
Humans
Melanocytes
Neck
Pigmentation Disorders
Skin
Skin Manifestations
Solar System
Thorax
Vitiligo*