Cutaneous manifestations of tuberous sclerosis

Purpose: To describe a case of periungual masses probably related to tuberous sclerosis and to review the literature regarding tuberous sclerosis, including the historical, clinical, and diagnostic aspects. Also discussed is the long-term follow-up of the disease.

Methods: Report of a case of periungual masses secondary to tuberous sclerosis and review of the literature from 1999 to 2009, with the use of MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine).

Results: I describe a case of periungual masses occurring as a result of tuberous sclerosis. A literature review confirms periungual masses associated with tuberous sclerosis in most cases. Also, the observance of cutaneous manifestations is most helpful in the diagnosis of this disorder.

Conclusion: Tuberous sclerosis is an uncommon disorder, which has a variable clinical presentation. Tuberous sclerosis is associated with seizures and mental retardation. In the absence of these 2 signs/symptoms, physicians should still consider the diagnosis when presented with varied dermatologic conditions.