Dear Editor, Cutaneous leiomyomas (CL) are rare, benign smooth muscle tumors of the skin (1). There are 3 subtypes with different origins and histopathologic features: piloleiomyoma, genital leiomyoma, and angioleiomyoma (2). Pilar leiomyoma is the most common subtype originating from arrector pili muscles of pilosebaceous unit. It presents as painful solitary or multiple papulonodules (2,3). A 30-year-old woman presented to our outpatient clinic with numerous painless, itchy papules on her gluteal region that had been present for 10 years. Dermatologic examination revealed red-brown, smooth, grouped papulonodules on bilateral gluteal regions (Figure 1). These lesions had appeared after intramuscular injections and had increased in number. Family history was unremarkable. A punch biopsy was performed with pre-diagnoses of keloid and tumoral infiltration. Histopathologic examination showed neoplastic infiltration with large bundles of spindle-like smooth muscle cells with acidophilic cytoplasm under epidermis (Figure 2). Neoplastic cells were stained by smooth muscle markers actin and caldesmon (Figure 3). Based on the clinical and histopathological findings the diagnosis of pilar leiomyoma was established. Pelvic and renal ultrasonographic examinations were normal. The patient's lesions were asymptomatic except for mild itching and she is currently in follow-up without any treatment. Pilar leiomyomas mostly manifest around the ages of 10 to 30 and are located on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the extremities. Lesions are firm, red-brown or skin-colored papulonodules with diameters varying from several mm to 2 cm (2). Differential diagnosis includes dermatofibroma, neurofibroma, smooth muscle hamartoma, neuroma, adnexal tumors, and painful papulonodular lesions such as glomus tumor (1,2). Our case clinically resembled keloid with red-brown, stiff nodules with epidermal thinning. In the literature, a patient with cutaneous pilar leiomyoma was diagnosed with eruptive keloid and treated with cryotherapy and intralesional steroid injections before histopathologic verification of pilar leiomyoma. He had multiple painless, red-purple papulonodules on the chest and arms (3). The case of a 53-year-old man with a history of multiple firm and painful lesions on the back showing segmental distribution and diagnosed with keloid-like leiomyoma was also reported (4). CL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of keloid-like lesions with atypical location and that are resistant to treatment. Cutaneous leiomyomas have different clinical presentations and many differential diagnoses, but CL can be diagnosed by histopathological examination. In all CLs, histopathologic examination shows bundles of spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, a cigarette-like nucleus, and a perinuclear halo. Smooth muscle markers actin and desmin are routinely positive. Histopathologic examination in our case also revealed bundles of spindle-like smooth muscle cells with large acidophilic cytoplasm; smooth muscle markers actin and caldesmon were positive. While solitary lesions are frequently sporadic cases, multiple lesions may be related to hereditary conditions such as Reed's syndrome (multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis), hereditary leiomyomatosis, and renal cell cancer (2). These two hereditary conditions have been reported to be associated with a heterozygous germline mutation in fumarate hydratase gene (4). Our patient was considered a sporadic case due to lack of family history and uterine leiomyoma and normal renal ultrasonography. Treatment of CL depends on the number of lesions and presence of symptoms (1). Surgical excision is the gold standard in the treatment of solitary and self-limiting lesions (2). However, recurrence can be more commonly observed in patients with multiple lesions (1). Drugs targeting smooth muscle contraction such as nifedipine, nitroglycerin, and phenoxybenzamine are recommended for pain management. Methods such as cryotherapy and carbon dioxide laser ablation have been tested but their efficacy was found to be limited (1,2). In our patient, lesions were asymptomatic and few in number; we thus suggested follow-up without any treatment. CL are rare benign smooth muscle tumors of the skin. They are difficult to diagnose by clinical evaluation, but the diagnosis can be established by histopathologic examination. In patients with atypical keloid-like papulonodular lesions like our patient, pilar leiomyoma should be considered and histopathologic examination should be performed for the diagnosis.

Emine Boyuk

Zeynep N Saracoğlu

Deniz Arık

Acta dermatovenerologica Croatica

ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA CROATICA (ADC) 旨在为皮肤病学家提供有关皮肤和性病诊断和管理各个方面的最新信息。接受的文章通常包括原创科学文章、简短的科学交流、临床文章、病例报告、评论、报告、新闻和通信。 ADC 由杰出的国际编辑委员会指导，并鼓励对皮肤病学家进行继续医学教育的方法。

Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica (ADC) aims to provide dermatologists with the latest information on the diagnosis and management of skin diseases and sexually transmitted infections. Accepted article types include original scientific research, brief scientific communications, clinical studies, case reports, reviews, reports, news, and correspondence. ADC is guided by an esteemed international editorial board and encourages continuing medical education for dermatologists.

《Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica》（ADC）旨在为皮肤病学家提供关于皮肤病和性病诊断与管理的最新信息。接受的文章类型包括原创科学研究、简短的科学交流、临床研究、病例报告、评论、报告、新闻和通信。ADC由一支杰出的国际编辑委员会指导，并鼓励皮肤病学家进行继续医学教育。

Category	Quartile
医学	4
医学, 皮肤病学	4

Cutaneous Leiomyoma Mimicking a Keloid.

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