We report a case of lupus erythmetosus tumidus and evaluate a set of diagnostic criteria based upon the clinical, histopathological, and immunoserological findings. The patient was a 41-year-old female, who had undergone treatment from the age of 17 for an undetermined collagen disease. She presented with tender, erythematous, edematous, indurated plaques with a reticular pattern and papular lesions on the face, chest, back, and upper extremities. The skin lesions had a smooth surface without any epidermal changes such as atrophy, scaling, follicular plugging, or scars. The titer of antinuclear antibody (ANA) was 1 : 320. Histopathologically, there was a slight infiltration of inflammatory cells at the dermal-epidermal junction. Marked mucin deposition was identified throughout the entire dermis, and dense, superficial and deep, perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic infiltration were present. Direct immunofluorescence for the lupus band test was negative. Based on the above characteristic findings, the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus tumidus was made. Her eruptions improved after protection from sun exposure and treatment with topical steroids.
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