Chrysiasis: Gold Aggregates Around a Nevus and Osteoma Cutis

Am J Dermatopathol. 2021 Aug 1;43(8):579-582. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000001967.

Abstract

Parenteral gold has historically been used to treat several conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Gold administration leads to a variety of cutaneous reactions, including chrysiasis, which is a permanent blue-grey hyperpigmentation of the skin due to dermal gold deposition. In this report, we describe the case of a patient who received parenteral gold injections 22 years before the onset of her chrysiasis for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Biopsy of the macules showed dermal gold deposits aggregating around a melanocytic nevus, as well as around preexisting osteoma cutis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in the literature describing a case of chrysiasis with gold deposits concentrated around a melanocytic nevus and an area of osteoma cutis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Aurothioglucose / adverse effects*
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / complications
  • Facial Dermatoses / chemically induced
  • Facial Dermatoses / pathology*
  • Female
  • Gold
  • Humans
  • Hyperpigmentation / chemically induced
  • Hyperpigmentation / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nevus, Pigmented / complications
  • Nevus, Pigmented / pathology*
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / complications
  • Skin Diseases, Genetic / complications
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Aurothioglucose
  • Gold

Supplementary concepts

  • Osseous Heteroplasia, Progressive