Palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mandana Chitsazan, M.D. [2]

Overview

PPE must be differentiated from Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD).

Differentiating palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia from other Diseases

Disease	Clinical manifestation	Histopathology	Additional diagnostic clues
Palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia	The areas of well-defined intense erythema and edema	A variable degree of epidermal (keratinocytes) necrosis Vacuolar degeneration of the basal cell layer of epidermis Spongiosis Hyperkeratosis Lymphohistiocytic infiltrates Superficial perivascular infiltration of dermis by lymphocytes and eosinophils Papillary dermal edema Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis Eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, in severe PPE (WHO grades 3 and 4)	History of chemotherapeutic agent use
Graft-versus-host disease	A diffuse macular erythema whihich may form papules	Histologic features of Graft-versus-host disease and palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia are identical in early stages and serial biopsies may be needed to distinguish these two entities. Features suggestive of Graft-versus-host disease: Degenerate keratinocytes at all levels of the epidermis Adjacent lymphocytes (satellite cell necrosis)	Extracutaneous manifestations of AGVHD, including: Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain Elevated liver enzymes
Contact dermatitis	Well-demarcated, eczematous eruptions localized to the area of skin that in contact with the culprit allergen Acute eruption: vesicular Chronic eruption: lichenified and scaly plaques	Eosinophilic spongiosis Exocytosis of eosinophils and lymphocytes	History of allergen exposure Pruritic lesions Patch testing may help to identify allergens
Palmoplantar plaque psoriasis	Sharply defined erythematous, scaly plaques on the palms and/or soles Fissures	Acanthosis Hyperkeratosis Parakeratosis Neutrophilic infiltration in the epidermis and stratum corneum (Kogoj pustules and Munro's microabscesses) Abundant mononuclear cells (mainly myeloid cells and T cells) in the dermis	Pruritus is common Positive Koebner phenomenon
Dyshidrotic eczema	Deep-seated clear vesicles; later, scaling, fissures and lichenification occur Deep-seated vesicles or blisters on the tips and lateral sides of the fingers, palms, and soles with subsequent scaling, fissures and lichenificatoin	Acute: intraepidermal spongiotic vesicles or bullae that do not involve the intraepidermal portion of the eccrine sweat duct (acrosyringium). A sparse, superficial perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes Chronic: Predominance of parakeratosis and acanthosis with minimal or no spongiosis and a dermal lymphocytic infiltrate.	Intensely pruritic History of recurrence
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