Ann Dermatol.  2008 Dec;20(4):226-229. 10.5021/ad.2008.20.4.226.

A Case of Cutis Pleonasmus

• Ko HC
• Jwa SW
• Song M
• Kim MB
• Kwon KS

• KMID: 2156400
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2008.20.4.226

Abstract

In 2005, Kreidstein first proposed the term "Cutis pleonasmus," a Greek term meaning "redundancy," which refers to the excessive skin that remains after massive weight loss. Cutis pleonasmus is clearly distinguishable from other diseases showing increased laxity of the skin, such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum, congenital and acquired generalized cutis laxa. Although individuals who are severely overweight are few and bariatric surgeries are less common in Korea than in the West, the number of these patients is increasing due to changes to Western life styles. We report a case for a 24-year-old man who presented with generalized lax and loose skin after massive weight loss. He was diagnosed with cutis pleonasmus based on the history of great weight loss, characteristic clinical features and normal histological findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of cutis pleonasmus in Korea.

Keyword

Cutis laxa; Weight loss

MeSH Terms

Bariatric Surgery
Cutis Laxa
Humans
Korea
Life Style
Overweight
Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum
Skin
Weight Loss
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Clinical features of cutis pleonasmus. (A) "Batwing" skin and tissue along the upper arms, folds along the lateral chest, drooping breasts and sagging abdomen. (B) Mons pubis ptosis and excessive skin folds on the thigh are observed

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) Histological findings of the right lateral chest wall showed no abnormal features (H&E, ×20). (B) Abnormal fragmentation and loss of elastic fibers were not found in the dermis (Verhoeff van Gieson stain, ×100)

Reference

1. Kreidstein ML. Excess skin following weight loss: cutis pleonasmus. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005; 115:977.

2. Heddens CJ. Body contouring after massive weight loss. Plast Surg Nurs. 2004; 24:107–115.

3. Costa LF, Landecker A, Manta AM. Optimizing body contour in massive weight loss patients: the modified vertical abdominoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004; 114:1917–1923.

4. Sagrillo D, Kunz S. Addressing skin redundancy after major weight loss. Plast Surg Nurs. 2004; 24:130–133.

5. Zook EG. The massive weight loss patient. Clin Plast Surg. 1975; 2:457–466.

6. Savage RC. Abdominoplasty following gastrointestinal bypass surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1983; 71:500–509.

7. Burrows NP, Lovell CR. Disorders of connective tissue. In : Burns T, Breathnach S, Cox N, Griffith C, editors. Rook's textbook of dermatology. 7th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science;2004. p. 46.18–46.31.

8. Andiran N, Sarikayalar F, Saraclar M, Caglar M. Autosomal recessive form of congenital cutis laxa: more than the clinical appearance. Pediatr Dermatol. 2002; 19:412–414.

9. Riveros CJ, Gavilan MF, Franca LF, Sotto MN, Takahashi MD. Acquired localized cutis laxa confined to the face: case report and review of the literature. Int J Dermatol. 2004; 43:931–935.

10. Goodman RM, Smith EW, Paton D, Bergman RA, Siegel CL, Ottesen OE, et al. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum: a clinical and histopathological study. Medicine (Baltimore). 1963; 42:297–334.

11. Mendelsohn G, Bulkley BH, Hutchins GM. Cardiovascular manifestations of Pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1978; 102:298–302.

12. Kunze J, Majewski F, Montgomery P, Hockey A, Karkut I, Riebel T. De Barsy syndrome--an autosomal recessive, progeroid syndrome. Eur J Pediatr. 1985; 144:348–354.

13. Koppe R, Kaplan P, Hunter A, MacMurray B. Ambiguous genitalia associated with skeletal abnormalities, cutis laxa, craniostenosis, psychomotor retardation, and facial abnormalities (SCARF syndrome). Am J Med Genet. 1989; 34:305–312.

14. Lisker R, Hernandez A, Martinez-Lavin M, Mutchinick O, Armas C, Reyes P, et al. Gerodermia osteodysplastica hereditaria: report of three affected brothers and literature review. Am J Med Genet. 1979; 3:389–395.

15. Low AK, Bouldin MJ, Sumrall CD, Loustalot FV, Land KK. A clinician's approach to medical management of obesity. Am J Med Sci. 2006; 331:175–182.

16. Song AY, Jean RD, Hurwitz DJ, Fernstrom MH, Scott JA, Rubin JP. A classification of contour deformities after bariatric weight loss: the Pittsburgh Rating Scale. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005; 116:1535–1544.

17. Bozola AR, Psillakis JM. Abdominoplasty: a new concept and classification for treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1988; 82:983–993.

18. Young SC, Freiberg A. A critical look at abdominal lipectomy following morbid obesity surgery. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 1991; 15:81–84.

19. Massiha H. Augmentation in ptotic and densely glandular breasts: prevention, treatment, and classification of double-bubble deformity. Ann Plast Surg. 2000; 44:143–146.