Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis presenting with papulonodular skin eruption and polyarthritis

Abstract

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis is a rare multisystem disease, presenting with skin lesions and erosive polyarthritis, which is often associated with malignancy. A 2 year untreated natural course of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, in which the typical nodular skin manifestation of the disease and polyarticular arthritis was present, is described in a 34-year-old lady with no history of major medical disease. Histopathology showed the characteristic histiocytic and multinucleated giant cell infiltrate with ground glass cytoplasm. Massive destruction of articular surfaces and new papular skin lesions accompanied by atrophic scars of previous skin lesions developed after 2 years of untreated active disease.