PROGRESSIVE HYPERPIGMENTATION - CASE-REPORT WITH A CLINICAL, HISTOLOGICAL, AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION

A clinical, histological and ultrastructural study of a 38-year-old wo man with generalized progressive hyperpigmentation is reported. Hyperp igmentation started in early infancy, progressed during childhood and has increased to a dark bronze-brown color with 'mottling' in the last 8 years. Histology and electron microscopy revealed epidermal hyperme lanosis and 'negroid' distribution of melanosomes in keratinocytes. In our family, autosomal dominant phenotype transmission with 'variable expression' is suggested. The literature on the entity has been review ed. This case is another rare example of familial progressive hyperpig mentation.