Lymphocytes and necrosis of the cutaneous microvasculature in malignant atrophic papulosis: a refined light microscope study.

Malignant atrophic papulosis is a disease characterized by multiple distinctive cutaneous and often lethal visceral infarctions. In some individuals, the diagnosis is not made until the skin manifestations are noted in a seriously ill patient with gastrointestinal and/or central nervous system disease. In other individuals, the disorder may pursue a benign course with only skin manifestations for many years. Using refined light microscopy to examine the skin lesions, the extensive nature of the necrotic microvascular alterations, a predominant lymphocytic infiltrate, and neural changes are documented. These findings suggest that the cutaneous lesions of malignant atrophic papulosis may result from a lymphocyte-mediated necrotizing vasculitis that affects the entire cutaneous microvasculature.