ACNE FULMINANS AND BONE-LESIONS MAY PRESENT TO OTHER SPECIALTIES

Acne fulminans is a rare form of acne vulgaris of acute onset, affecti ng mostly teenage boys and associated with a number of systemic sympto ms and abnormal investigations. The occurrence of bone lesions in this condition is rare but well recognized, and often bone biopsies are pe rformed to rule out malignancy or infection. We report a 13-year-old b oy referred to the pediatric oncologists with multiple osteolytic bone lesions. He was noted to have severe acne. A potentially painful ster nal bone biopsy was averted following dermatologic referral when a dia gnosis of acne fulminans was made. Pediatricians and dermatologists ne ed to be aware of this association so that unnecessary anguish and inv estigations can be avoided.