Plasma cell panniculitis: a unique clinical and pathologic presentation of linear scleroderma.

A 64-year-old woman had an 11-month history of a highly inflamed linear eruption that affected the left arm, including the dorsal aspect of the hand. It was characterized histologically by an intense plasma cell infiltrate extending throughout the dermis and subcutaneous fat. During the subsequent 2 years, the area evolved into a linear sclerotic plaque in keeping with the diagnosis of linear scleroderma. This case represents a clinical and pathologic presentation of linear scleroderma not previously emphasized in the literature.