Adenoma sebaceum explained

Synonym:	Facial angiofibroma
Specialty:	Dermatology

Adenoma sebaceum, also known as facial angiofibroma is a misnamed cutaneous disorder consisting of angiofibromas that begin in childhood (generally present between 2–5 years of age) and appear clinically as red papules on the face especially on the nasolabial folds, cheek and chin,^[1] often misidentified as acne not responding to treatment. Adenoma sebaceum may at times be associated with tuberous sclerosis.^[2] Gradually the papules become more prominent with time and persist throughout life.^[3] Cosmetic removal by argon or pulse dye laser or scalpel is indicated.

Signs and symptoms

Adenoma sebaceum are several tiny, pinkish, erythematous hamartomas that cover the nose and cheeks in a distinctive butterfly pattern during early childhood or infancy.^{[4] [5]} They typically occur in the nasolabial folds and are symmetrical.^[6]

Diagnosis

Adenoma sebaceum presence represents one of the major diagnostic criteria to confirm the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis.^[5] When adenoma sebaceum presents with seizures and mental retardation (Vogt's triad), it indicates that cranial imaging is necessary, other differential diagnoses for this disorder include acne vulgaris, rhinophyma, and sebaceous hyperplasia.^{[5] [7]}

Treatment

Adenoma sebaceum can be eliminated with dermabrasion or a laser.^[8]

See also

• List of cutaneous conditions
• Tuberous sclerosis

Further reading

• Krishnan . Prasad . Patel . SachinkumarMaheshbhai . Adenoma sebaceum: Dermatological finding unmasking central nervous system pathology . Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences . Medknow . 11 . 4 . 2016 . 1817-1745 . 10.4103/1817-1745.199465 . free . 378 . 28217171 . none. 5314862 .
• Book: Cruess . Alan F. . Sharma . Sanjay . Retina . Tuberous Sclerosis and the Eye . Elsevier . 2006 . 978-0-323-02598-0 . 10.1016/b978-0-323-02598-0.50031-8 . none.

External links

• GPnotebook

Notes and References

1. Marks, James G; Miller, Jeffery (2006). Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology (4th ed.). Elsevier Inc. .
2. Book: James, William D. . Berger, Timothy G. . Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology . Saunders Elsevier . 2006 . 978-0-7216-2921-6 . etal.
3. Web site: DermIS — Adenoma Sebaceum (information on the diagnosis). www.dermis.net. 2016-01-01.
4. Boggarapu . Sreedevi . Roberds . Steven L. . Nakagawa . JoAnne . Beresford . Eric . Characterization and management of facial angiofibroma related to tuberous sclerosis complex in the United States: retrospective analysis of the natural history database . Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases . Springer Science and Business Media LLC . 17 . 1 . 2022-09-14 . 1750-1172 . 10.1186/s13023-022-02496-2 . free . 36104799 . 9476292 .
5. Goodrick . Steven . The road to Vogt's triad . The Lancet Neurology . Elsevier BV . 14 . 7 . 2015 . 1474-4422 . 10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00108-8 . 690. 26067122 .
6. Osborne . J P . Diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. . Archives of Disease in Childhood . BMJ . 63 . 12 . 1988-12-01 . 0003-9888 . 10.1136/adc.63.12.1423 . 1423–1425. 3069050 . 1779182 .
7. Hemady . Nikhil . Ohri . Sameer . Papulonodular lesions in a man with seizures and mental retardation. Adenoma sebaceum . American Family Physician . 79 . 1 . 2009-01-01 . 0002-838X . 19145966 . 48, 51.
8. Schwartsmann . G. . Peters . G. J. . Laurensse . E. . de Waal . F. C. . Loonen . A. H. . Leyva . A. . Pinedo . H. M. . DUP 785 (NSC 368390): schedule-dependency of growth-inhibitory and antipyrimidine effects . Biochemical Pharmacology . 37 . 17 . 1988-09-01 . 0006-2952 . 2840910 . 10.1016/0006-2952(88)90636-3 . 3257–3266.