Addison’s disease presenting only with hyperpigmentation – A rare case report

Abstract

Addison’s disease or chronic adrenocortical insufficiency, can remain unrecognized for a long time. It usually presents with non-specific symptoms, which are often ignored or misdiagnosed as a sign of other more common diseases. In this case report we focused on subtle findings of diffuse hyperpigmentation. We present a study on 2 skin biopsies from a 38-year-old woman in whom hyperpigmentation lesions were first found on the face and after two months, in the oral cavity. Addison’s disease usually presents with non-specific symptoms and this can be a rare case because it presents with hyperpigmentation as its only sign and has no other clinical symptoms.There are a few diagnosed cases of this disease with hyperpigmentation only.