PAPULAR CLEAR-CELL HYPERPLASIA OF THE ECCRINE DUCT IN A DIABETIC

We report a patient with a widespread papular disorder characterized b y extensive clear cell hyperplasia of the secretory portion of the ecc rine units. A 46-year-old woman had a long history of diffuse papules which gave the skin a 'goose-flesh' appearance. She had severe diabete s. Histological examination of a papule showed marked clear cell hyper plasia that involved the secretory duct of all eccrine units present i n the specimen sparing the secretory coil. The clear cells were period ic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive and Alcian blue negative. Ultrastructura l study confirmed that the clear cells contained abundant intracytopla smatic glycogen. We suggest that the diabetic condition may be importa nt in promoting the accumulation of glycogen in the eccrine ducts. Our patient represents a peculiar disorder of the eccrine units that, on the basis of clinicopathological features, we have termed papular clea r cell hyperplasia of the eccrine duct.