Chromhidrosis: a rare diagnosis requiring clinicopathologic correlation

Abstract

Chromhidrosis is a rare idiopathic disorder characterized by colored secretions most typically from the malar cheeks, axilla, or areolar regions. Histologically, chromhidrosis is notable for glandular structures with decapitation secretion indicating ectopic apocrine glands in the dermis, and the presence of lipofuscin pigments under ultraviolet fluorescence and in cytology smears. This case report describes a 26-year-old man who presented with a 2- to 3-year history of black-colored secretions on the bilateral malar cheeks, present on exertion or with squeezing of the cheeks. A 3-mm punch biopsy of the left cheek demonstrated histopathologic findings characteristic of chromhidrosis under hematoxylin and eosin staining and ultraviolet fluorescence. To our best knowledge, this is the second case report in the literature of an adult male being affected by chromhidrosis, and the first of an adult male with black-colored malar cheek secretions in chromhidrosis.