Abdominal Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa: An Underrecognized Disorder

Abstract

Case 1 A 60-year-old African American man presented with a medical history of morbid obesity (weighing more than 550 lb), benign prostatic hyperplasia, hyperlipidemia, gynecomastia, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, psoriasis, sleep apnea, and cardiomegaly. His size has limited his ability to clean himself properly. He experiences chronic and recurrent skin irritation and cellulitis possibly secondary to intertriginous superinfection, lymphedema, and venous stasis. On examination, his abdomen showed heavy skinfolding with hyperpigmentation, cobblestone and velvety changes, thickening and fibrotic induration of the skin, focal areas of redness, and tenderness on palpation (Figure 1A and 1B). These findings are consistent with a clinical picture of chronic elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV) and lipodermatosclerosis (LDS). He has had numerous hospitalizations for recurrent cellulitis in the abdomen and lower limbs during the past 8 years. He is currently residing in a weight-loss facility and is managing skin care using topical nystatin powder and periodic topical triamcinolone ointment.