Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Mar 15, 2023
  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: William D James, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

See the list below:

  • Benign or juvenile acanthosis nigricans [60, 61] : Failure to distinguish acanthosis nigricans from confluent and reticulated papillomatosis may result in failure to diagnosis a malignancy. (Some forms of acanthosis nigricans represent a paraneoplastic syndrome.) However, obesity-related acanthosis nigricans is common and may occur coincidentally with confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. [62]

  • Dyschromatosis universalis

  • Epidermal nevus

  • Pseudoacanthosis nigricans

  • Verrucae plana

  • Dirty skin: Also known as "dirt-adherent dermatosis," this may require distinction too. [38] A 70% alcohol swabbing had been advocated for distinction; however, one report describes that technique as removing a good part of the pigmentation in both entities, presumably more being removed when dirt is involved.

  • Tinea versicolor: Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis may simulate pigmented tinea versicolor and tends to be misdiagnosed as such. [63]

  • Prurigo pigmentosa [64]

Differential Diagnoses