|
Fig. 35.1 Sweet’s syndrome demonstrating painful red indurated plaques on on the hand and arm. (Courtesy of James E. Fitzpatrick, MD.) |
The clinical hallmark of Sweet’s syndrome is the presence of sharply demarcated, painful plaques on the face, neck, upper trunk, and extremities (Fig. 35-1). The surface of the plaques has a mammillated (nipple-like) appearance and often shows papulovesicles and pustules. Some lesions have a target-like appearance, and lesions on the lower extremities may resemble erythema nodosum. Oral mucous membrane and eye lesions can be seen. Skin lesions may develop at the site of minor skin trauma or needle-sticks in a small subset of patients. This phenomenon is called
pathergy and is also seen in pyoderma gangrenosum and Behçet’s syndrome.