Skin dimples are seldom observed in sites other than the face. We report on a male premature child who was seen at the age of 2 months for the evaluation of cutaneous depressions symmetrically located on the shoulders, elbows and in the sacral region. Skin dimples have sometimes been considered a benign autosomal dominant trait. However, several authors have reported these cutaneous defects in a variety of conditions like congenital syndromes, infections, inborn errors of metabolism and mechanical trauma. In our case, the aetiology is unknown, even though maternal drug or infective exposure can reasonably be excluded as well as traumatic events. At a 3-year follow-up, the patient shows a normal psychophysical development. This appears to be the first case of a child presenting congenital, symmetric dimples in three different areas.

Keywords:
Skin dimples, Skin fossae, Cutaneous depressions, Amniocentesis, Associated conditions, Congenital syndromes
1.
McKusick VA: Mendelian Inheritance in Man: Catalogs of Autosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive, and X-Linked Phenotypes, ed 5. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1978, pp 96, 1232.
2.
Bianchine JW: Acromial dimples: A benign family trait (letter). Am J Med Genet 1974;26:412–413.
3.
Mehes K, Meggyessy V: Autosomal dominant inheritance of benign bilateral acromial dimples. Hum Genet 1987;76:206.
4.
Spencer JM, Schneiderman PI, Grossman ME: Bilateral skin dimples on the shoulders. Pediatr Dermatol 1993;10:16–18.
5.
De Grouchy J, Royer P, Salmon C, Lamy M: Délétion partielle des bras longs du chromosome 18. Pathol Biol (Paris) 1964;12:579–582.
6.
Insley J: Syndrome associated with a deficiency of part of the long arm of chromosome No 18. Arch Dis Child 1967;42:140–146.
7.
Centerwall WR, Beatty-Desana JW: The trisomy 9p syndrome. Pediatrics 1975;56:748–749.
8.
Say B, Barber DH, Hobbs J, Coldwell JG: A new dominantly inherited syndrome of cleft palate. Humangenetik 1975;26:267–269.
9.
Bianchine JW, Risemberg HM, Kanderian SS, Harrison HE: Camptomelic dwarfism. Lancet 1971;i:1017–1018.
10.
Chitayat D, Stalker HJ, Azouz EM: Autosomal recessive oral-facial-digital syndrome with resemblance to OFD types II, III, IV and VI: A new OFD syndrome? Am J Med Genet 1992;44:567–572.
11.
Sklower Brooks S, Kassner G, Qazi Q, Keogh MJ, Gorlin RJ: Osteoglophonic dysplasia: Review and further delineation of the syndrome. Am J Med Genet 1996;66:154–162.
12.
Garlinger P, Ott J: Prune belly syndrome. Birth Defects 1984;10:173–180.
13.
Squires LA, Raymond G, Neumeyer AM, Krishnamoorty KS, Buyse ML: Dysmorphic features of Joubert syndrome. Dysmorph Clin Genet 1991;5:72–77.
14.
Chinen Y, Naritomi K: Malpuech facial clefting syndrome in a Japanese boy with cardiac defects. Jpn J Hum Genet 1995;40:335–338.
15.
Samlaska CP: Congenital supraspinous fossae. J Am Acad Dermatol 1991;25:1078–1079.
16.
Lyons Jones K: Smith’s Recognisable Patterns of Human Malformation, ed 5. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1997.
17.
Hammond K: Skin dimples and rubella. Pediatrics 1967;39:291–292.
18.
Wendling D, Blanc D, Hory B: Skin dimples in hypophosphatasia. Dermatologica 1989;178:179–180.
19.
Coelho KE, Sarmento MF, Veiga CM, Speck-Martins CE, Safatle HP, Castro CV, Niikawa N: Misoprostol embryotoxicity: Clinical evaluation of fifteen patients with arthrogryposis. Am J Med Genet 2000;95:297–301.
20.
Raimer SS, Raimer BG: Needle puncture scars from midtrimester amniocentesis. Arch Dermatol 1984;120:1360–1362.
21.
Chahira K, Benkendorf J: Numerous needle-mark injuries following midtrimester amniocentesis. Clin Dysmorphol 1998;7:229–230.
22.
Cambiaghi S, Restano L, Cavalli R, Gelmetti C: Skin dimpling as a consequence of amniocentesis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;39:888–890.
23.
Browne D: Congenital deformities of mechanical origin. Proc R Soc Med 1936;29:1049.
24.
Wood VE: Congenital skin fossae about the shoulder. Plast Reconstr Surg 1990;85:798–800.
© 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
2002
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.