Elastosis perforans serpiginosa: a review of the literature and report of 11 cases

Elastosis perforans serpiginosa (EPS) is a distinct entity. In this presentation a study of clinical features and histopathologic changes of EPS is made based on a review of 90 cases recorded in the literature and on observations of 11 additional cases. In 26% of the cases, EPS occurs in association with some type of systemic disorder such as mongoloid idiocy or disorders of the connective tissue, eg, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, or Marfan's syndrome. An attempt is made to relate the histopathologic changes of EPS with other disorders of the skin through the interesting phenomenon of "transepithelial elimination."