Published online May 6, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i13.3092
Peer-review started: January 8, 2023
First decision: February 20, 2023
Revised: March 2, 2023
Accepted: March 27, 2023
Article in press: March 27, 2023
Published online: May 6, 2023
Processing time: 107 Days and 6 Hours
Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a rare connective tissue disease that can cause swelling and sclerosis of the extremities, and special attention is needed to differentiate EF from systemic sclerosis. Misdiagnosis or omission markedly delays treatment of EF, and severe skin sclerosis in advanced stages can cause joint contracture and tendon retraction, worsening the patient's prognosis and quality of life.
We report a case of EF in a young woman diagnosed by tissue biopsy, confirming the difficulty of differential diagnosis with scleroderma.
Focusing on skin manifestations, completing tissue biopsy and radiography can help diagnose EF effectively. Clinicians should enhance their understanding of the differences between EF and scleroderma, and early diagnosis and standardized treatment can improve the prognosis of patients with EF.
Core Tip: Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a rare connective tissue disease and special attention should be paid to differentiating it from scleroderma. Misdiagnosis or omission markedly delays the appropriate treatment of EF, worsening the prognosis and reducing the quality of life of the patient. We report a case of EF in a young woman diagnosed by tissue biopsy, confirming the difficulty of differential diagnosis with scleroderma. Clinicians should be more aware of EF, and early diagnosis and standardized treatment may improve the prognosis of patients.