Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis

Etiology

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis was primarily thought to be caused by Malassezia furfur. Still, studies have been inconsistent with the detection of the yeast in patients with confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. The current infectious theory is that confluent and reticulated papillomatosis is caused by bacteria, Dietzia papillomatosis, anaerobic gram-positive coccus/rod actinomycete. There are noninfectious causes of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis, including diabetes, obesity, ultraviolet light, amyloidosis, and K16 mutation. There is an association between confluent and reticulated papillomatosis, diabetes mellitus, and obesity because hyperinsulinemia has mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects. Increased levels of insulin activate insulin-like growth factor 1, tyrosine kinase receptor superfamily, epidermal growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor and induce epidermal proliferation. Changes in confluent and reticulated papillomatosis with changing weight and diabetes control support this theory. UV light can induce confluent and reticulated papillomatosis because it has an effect on melanogenesis and can cause transient epidermal hyperplasia. Amyloid deposits have been found in some patients with confluent and reticulated papillomatosis, suggesting amyloidosis as a cause. Familial cases of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis could be due to overexpression of keratin-16.[4][5][6][7]

Epidemiology

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis is reported to occur in different geographic areas and regions. It has a higher frequency in Caucasians. The Mayo Clinic conducted a study between 1972 and 2003 with 39 patients diagnosed with confluent and reticulated papillomatosis and determined the mean age of occurrence to be 15 years old with a range of 8 to 32 years and a male predilection of 1.4:1. A Japanese study had similar findings with a mean age of 17 years old and a range of 3 to 30 years and a slight male predilection. A Singaporean study reported a mean age of onset of 29 years old with a range of 16 to 55 years and a male bias of 2.6:1.

Histopathology

The diagnosis of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis is clinical, but a skin biopsy can be performed to rule out other diseases. Findings on histopathology include:

• Hyperkeratosis
• Papillomatosis
• Focal acanthosis
• Increased melanin pigmentation and melanosomes

History and Physical

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis is mostly asymptomatic but can present with some pruritus. The disease is limited to the skin and presents as multiple 5 mm brown to hyperpigmented macules and papules in the center that can coalesce to form plaques with reticulation in the periphery. There can be some velvety or warty changes. The papules have epidermal changes, including scaling, hyperkeratosis, and/or atrophy. Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis most commonly occurs on the upper trunk and axilla. It can also occur on the shoulders, arms, antecubital and popliteal fossas and can rarely occur on the forehead.

Evaluation

Diagnosis is clinical. A skin biopsy can be performed to rule out other disorders. Dermoscopic evaluation will show brown pigmentation with white scales and a pattern of sulci and gyri.  

Davis et al. proposed five criteria for the diagnosis of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. 

1. Clinical findings of scaling brown macules and patches, part of which appear reticulated and papillomatous
2. Involvement of the upper trunk and neck
3. Fungal staining is negative for fungus
4. No response to antifungal treatment
5. Excellent response to minocycline

Jo et al. in 2014 proposed a change to the criteria.

1. Scaly brown macules and patches with some appearing reticulated and papillomatous
2. Involvement of the upper trunk, neck, or flexural areas
3. Negative fungal staining or no response to antifungal treatment
4. Excellent response to antibiotics

Differential diagnoses to consider are acanthosis nigricans, tinea versicolor, Dowling-Degos disease, Galli-Galli disease, dyskeratosis congenita, prurigo pigmentosa, terra firma-forme dermatosis, and Darier disease.

Treatment / Management

The main treatment options for confluent and reticulated papillomatosis are antimicrobials. Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis is usually asymptomatic. Treatment can help with emotional distress and cosmetic appearance. [8](B3)

Antibiotics

First-line treatment is oral minocycline. Minocycline 50 mg twice a day for six weeks produces a good response with minimal side effects. Possible side effects include drug-induced hypersensitivity, drug-induced lupus, pigment changes, and vestibular toxicity. It is a category D medication and is not recommended in pregnancy. Azithromycin is a good alternative and can be used in pregnancy because of its category B rating. Azithromycin 500 mg once a day for two weeks and azithromycin 500 mg three times a week for three weeks can improve the appearance of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. Oral clarithromycin 500 mg once a day for five weeks and erythromycin 1000 mg daily for six weeks have been shown to produce a good response. These antibiotics are effective because they are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory response of tetracyclines is due to their inhibition metalloproteinases, hydrolases, phospholipase A2, TNF-a, IL-1B, and IL-6. Macrolides work through inhibiting IL-8 and decreasing neutrophil oxidative burst.

Antifungals

• Acanthosis nigricans
• Achlorydria
• Dermatopathia pigmentosaa reticularis
• Epidermal nevus syndrome
• Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis
• Keratosis folicularis
• Pityriasis rubra pilaris
• Pseudoatrophoderma colli
• Seborrheic keratosis
• Syringoma

The use of antifungals is due in large part to the previous theory that Malassezia furfur causes confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. Topical selenium sulfide applied once a day for three weeks and then once a week for another three weeks produced a good response, but this could be due to its keratolytic properties. Other antifungals, such as ketoconazole, tolnaftate, and itraconazole, have worked, but recurrences were common.

Topical therapy and other treatments

Systemic retinoids, like isotretinoin and etretinate, have shown to be effective, but minocycline and azithromycin are safer and are preferred. Topical therapies such as topical retinoids, urea, calcipotriol, and tacrolimus have been successful. Ozdemir et al. reported a case of a patient with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and confluent and reticulated papillomatosis that was treated successfully with oral contraceptives that contained drospirenone.

Differential Diagnosis

• Acanthosis nigricans

• Achlorhydria

• Dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis

• Epidermal nevus syndrome

• Epidermodysplasia verruciformis

• Keratosis folicularis

• Pityriasis Rubra pilaris

• Pseudoatrophoderma colli

• Seborrheic keratosis

• Syringoma