Cold-induced cutaneous smooth muscle hamartoma

Cutaneous smooth muscle hamartomas (SMHs) are benign proliferations of smooth muscle tissue, typically congenital and characterized by hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, and a positive pseudo- Darier's sign. We report an unusual case of an early-onset acquired SMH in a 49-year-old woman. The lesion first appeared during adolescence and remained asymptomatic and clinically inapparent except upon exposure to cold. Cold stimulation induced a transient, linear, wrinkled, hyperpigmented papular lesion on the left thigh, which resolved spontaneously within seconds after rewarming. Histological examination revealed dermal fibrosis and well-organized lobules of smooth muscle cells, confirming the diagnosis of SMH without requiring immunohistochemical analysis. This case highlights a unique and transient presentation of SMH revealed exclusively by cold exposure and reversible with rewarming. It broadens the clinical spectrum of SMHs and the importance of external stimuli in their diagnosis.

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Publication Details

Journal
Dermatology Reports
Published
2026-02-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2026.10476
Primary Topic
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Cold-induced cutaneous smooth muscle hamartoma

C. Szczurko, A. Joli, Anne Dompmartin, Manuel Croix
Dermatology Reports
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
article

Cold-induced cutaneous smooth muscle hamartoma

C. Szczurko, A. Joli, Anne Dompmartin, Manuel Croix
article en

Abstract

Cutaneous smooth muscle hamartomas (SMHs) are benign proliferations of smooth muscle tissue, typically congenital and characterized by hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, and a positive pseudo- Darier's sign. We report an unusual case of an early-onset acquired SMH in a 49-year-old woman. The lesion first appeared during adolescence and remained asymptomatic and clinically inapparent except upon exposure to cold. Cold stimulation induced a transient, linear, wrinkled, hyperpigmented papular lesion on the left thigh, which resolved spontaneously within seconds after rewarming. Histological examination revealed dermal fibrosis and well-organized lobules of smooth muscle cells, confirming the diagnosis of SMH without requiring immunohistochemical analysis. This case highlights a unique and transient presentation of SMH revealed exclusively by cold exposure and reversible with rewarming. It broadens the clinical spectrum of SMHs and the importance of external stimuli in their diagnosis.

Dermatology Reports
Université de Caen Normandie (FR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 62%
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
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