Clinical Quiz
The Hong Kong Practitioner VOLUME 27 / September 2005

A young man presenting with sudden onset of skin eruption
Hing-Fung Ho ¦ó¼yÂ×


A monthly clinical quiz is published in The Hong Kong Practitioner. Readers are invited to participate and a prize draw, sponsored by Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, will be undertaken among the successful entries each month. For entry into the draw, simply answer the question, fill in the reply slip and return it to the College by 14 October, 2005. Each reader is allowed to submit one entry only. The name of the winner and the answer will be published in the October issue.

Clinical history:

A 29-year old man, non-alcoholic, otherwise in good health presented with 2-week's history of sudden onset of skin eruption. There were yellowish-red papules which first appeared on the arms, subsequently spreading to the buttocks, shoulders and trunk. The lesions were itchy.

Physical examination found 2 to 3mm diameter firm yellowish papules many of which having red halos. They were arranged in crops which were distributed over his buttocks, extensor surfaces of the arms and the back. No lesions were found on the palms, soles or the face. No enlarged liver or spleen was found on abdominal examination. Investigations showed grossly raised fasting blood triglyceride and fasting blood glucose.
The slide and the question were prepared by:
Dr Hing-Fung Ho, FHKAM(Med)
Specialist (D&V),
i/c Chai Wan Social Hygiene Clinic, Social Hygiene Service, Department of Health.

The diagnosis is:

A. Eruptive xanthomata
B. Tendinous xanthomata
C. Tuberous xanthomata
D. Xanthoma disseminatum

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