Young Boy with Generalized Hyperpigmentation

div class=”ChapterContextInformation”>


© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Kothiwala et al. (eds.)Clinical Cases in Disorders of MelanocytesClinical Cases in Dermatologyhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22757-9_14



14. A Young Boy with Generalized Hyperpigmentation



Rajesh Kumar Mandal1  


(1)
North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling, India

 



 

Rajesh Kumar Mandal


Keywords

Addison’s diseaseCorticosteroidsAdrenal insufficiencyHyperpigmentationSerum cortisol


An 8-year-old boy presented with generalized darkening of skin of 1 year duration. His mother also complained of progressive weakness, weight loss, fatigue, poor appetite, nausea and occasional vomiting. There were two episodes of syncope also. There was no history of tuberculosis or any other systemic major illness in past. There was no history of any drug therapy preceding these complaints. He was hospitalized once for hypotension, shock and weakness. On examination, his blood pressure was 80/50 mmHg. All other vital parameters were within normal limits. On cutaneous examination, there was generalized hyperpigmentation of the skin, specially the face, hands, and palms (Fig. 14.1). The palmar creases and nail bed also showed hyperpigmentation and melanonychia was observed in a few nails (Fig. 14.2). Tongue and buccal mucosa showed patchy hyperpigmentation. Biochemical tests revealed hyponatremia (129 mmol/L) with hyperkalemia (5.5 mmol/L). 8 a.m. serum cortisol level was decreased to 46 nmol/L (range: 102–535 nmol/L). Liver and renal function tests, Thyroid stimulating hormone and blood glucose were within normal limits. Complete blood counts, RBC indices, peripheral blood smear and vitamin B12 level estimation did not reveal any abnormality. What is your diagnosis?


  1. 1.

    Lichen Planus Pigmentosus


     

  2. 2.

    Addison’s disease


     

  3. 3.

    Vitamin B12 deficiency


     

  4. 4.

    Nelson syndrome


     

../images/471276_1_En_14_Chapter/471276_1_En_14_Fig1_HTML.jpg

Figure 14.1

Generalized hyperpigmentation affecting face (Courtesy: Dr. Santoshdev P. Rathod)


../images/471276_1_En_14_Chapter/471276_1_En_14_Fig2_HTML.jpg

Figure 14.2

Hyperpigmentation of hands with nail pigmentation and melanonychia (Courtesy: Dr. Santoshdev P. Rathod)


Diagnosis


Mar 23, 2021 | Posted by in Dermatology | Comments Off on Young Boy with Generalized Hyperpigmentation

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access