What does diffuse cutaneous mean?
Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) is a subtype of systemic scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) characterized by skin hardening (fibrosis) and problems in many organs of the body. The disease can occur at any age but mainly affects people between 40 and 50 years of age.
What were your first symptoms of scleroderma?
Scleroderma Symptoms
- Thickening and swelling of the fingers.
- Pale fingers that may become numb and tingle when exposed to cold or stress, known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
- Joint pain.
- Taut, shiny, darker skin on large areas, which can cause problems with movement.
Does cancer grow symmetrically?
In most normal tissues, cell division results in identical or nearly identical daughter pairs. In cancer, cell division is often an asymmetric process that can be thought of as a series of symmetry breaking events.
What is limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis?
Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis is a subtype of systemic sclerosis characterized by the association of Raynaud’s phenomenon and skin fibrosis on the hands, face, feet and forearms.
At what age is scleroderma usually diagnosed?
While scleroderma can develop in every age group, the onset is most often between the ages of 25 and 55. Still, symptoms, onset age and other factors vary for each patient. Many patients are alarmed when he or she reads medical information that contradicts their own experience.
Is sclerosis the same as scleroderma?
The word “scleroderma” means hard skin in Greek, and the condition is characterized by the buildup of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and other organs. The condition is also called systemic sclerosis because the fibrosis can affect organs other than the skin.
What can mimic scleroderma?
However, similar features of hard and thick skin can be seen in other conditions which are often referred to as “scleroderma mimics”. These mimics include eosinophilic fasciitis, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, scleromyxedema, and scleredema among others.