ACQUIRED TUFTED ANGIOMA OF AN ADULT

Introduction. Acquired vascular tumors have been raising new interest since Kaposi's illness was discovered in human immunodeficiency virus infection. We herein report a case of a rare different entity of acqui red vascular tumor, described by E. Wilson-Jones for the first time in 1976. Case report. A 69-year-old woman had had for several months an asymptomatic erythematous lesion on the face gradually increasing in s ize. Histopathologic findings were pathognomonic of ''tufted'' angioma . The patient did not receive any treatment because of uncertain effic iency and because her lesion was well tolerated. Discussion. ''Acquire d tufted angioma'' is a benign angioma of the skin mainly occuring in children and young adults of both sexes. Histopathologic findings are pathognomonic. Typically, tufted angioma enlarges for a few years and then ceases growing and remains stable. Spontaneous regression may occ ur. The principal differential diagnoses are Kaposi's illness and low grade malignant angiosarcoma. Pulsed dye laser is the most efficient t reatment.