New York Academy of Medicine, Section of Dermatology and Syphilology

Colloid Degeneration of the Skin.Presented byDr. David Bloom. From: New York Skin and Cancer Hospital Unit of University Hospital; service of Dr. Nathan Sobel. History: A man aged 72 presents an eruption on the forehead which has been present for two years. It consists of yellow nonindurated plaques composed of individual milium-like lesions. The eruption is most marked on the sides of the forehead. There are no subjective symptoms. Biopsy examination done by Dr. Charles Miller was reported as follows: "The epidermis is normal. In the upper cutis there are globular masses of degenerated collagen fibers, which show slightly basophilic staining with hemotoxylin-eosin. Polychrome staining excludes amyloid degeneration. Diagnosis: Colloid Degeneration." While "colloid milium" is characterized by small, round, yellowish nodules, so-called "colloid degeneration" of the skin presents a yellowish plaque. Some authors believe that colloid, like amyloid, represents a deposit and not a