| What is Morphea? |
| The most important thing to know about morphea is that it is very different from the systemic forms of scleroderma, and it is never fatal. |
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| Overview |
 Morphea scleroderma usually begins as patches of yellowish or ivory-colored rigid, dry skin. These then become hard, slightly depressed, oval-shaped plaques which usually have a whitish or yellowish center surrounded by a pinkish or purplish halo.
Morphea is most commonly found on the trunk, but can occur anywhere on the body. About 75% of the time it affects only the skin or underlying muscles and joints. |
| Types of Morphea |
| The most common type of morphea is a simple plaque-type, which affects only the skin and not the underlying tissues. It typically begins fading within about 3-5 years after onset, even without any treatment at all. Deeper, fast-spreading, cosmetically apparent, or different forms of morphea require early diagnosis and, preferably, treatment by a scleroderma expert. The rare types of morphea include: |
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| Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a disorder characterized by thickening and induration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue due to excessive collagen deposition. Morphea subtypes are classified according to their clinical presentation and depth of tissue involvement; they include plaque-type, generalized, linear, and deep varieties. eMedicine 2006. |
| Morphea scleroderma and its variants are also known as atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini, bullous morphea, circumscribed scleroderma, deep morphea, disabling pansclerotic morphea, en coup de sabre, eosinophilic fasciitis, generalized morphea, guttate morphea, keloid, keloidal, or keloid-like morphea, linear morphea, localized scleroderma, morphea profunda, nodular morphea, pansclerotic morphea, plaque-type morphea, progressive hemifacial atrophy, progressive facial atrophy, Parry Rombergs, Shulman's syndrome, and subcutaneous morphea. |
| Localized Fibrosing Disorders: Linear Scleroderma, Morphea, Regional Fibrosis. Localized fibrosing disorders include several clinical and histopathological conditions that are similar to the skin involvement of systemic sclerosis, but the systemic features are absent. Localized fibrosing disorders can be classified into several subtypes that include morphea, generalized morphea, and linear scleroderma, in which facial involvement is termed en coup de sabre. eMedicine.com. 11/07/06. (Also see: Types of Scleroderma and Localized Scleroderma) |
| Juvenile Scleroderma |
| Juvenile Scleroderma. When any form of scleroderma begins during childhood (including morphea) it is also called childhood or juvenile scleroderma. (Also see: Types of Scleroderma) |
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| Associated Conditions |
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| Causes of Morphea |
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| Complications of Morphea |
| Plaque-type scleroderma associated with linear and oesophageal features and facial and extra-facial hemiatrophy. The combination of several sub-types of scleroderma and facial and extra-facial hemiatrophy in the same patient may indicate that these entities actually represent different spectra of the same disease. PubMed. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2007 Jan;134(1):68-71. (Also see: Linear Scleroderma) |
| Morphea of the breast. Two case reports. Morphea is a recognised sequelae of radiotherapy which should be distinguished from sclerotic recurrence of the original tumour. Surgical excision is possible in certain patients. PubMed. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2006;59(10):1114-7. |
| Diagnosis of Morphea |
| Diagnosis of Morphea.Morphea is usually diagnosed by clinical examination. The diagnosis is sometimes confirmed with blood tests, skin biopsies, or other methods. ISN. |
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| Photos of Morphea |
| ISN Photo Repository: Morphea Photos. ISN. |
| Research Registries |
| First U.S. Morphea Registry and DNA Repository for both Adults and Children Established. Dermatologists at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center are establishing a DNA repository aimed at people with morphea. They will collect information about other health conditions present, collect information about family history, and collect blood and skin samples to further define the genes associated with morphea and the genetic faces of morphea. Southwestern Medical Center. 05/31/07. |
| Treatments for Morphea |
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| English Morphea Patient and Caregiver Stories |
| (English) Morphea Patient and Caregiver Stories (Main Listing). ISN. |
| Italian Morphea Patient and Caregiver Stories |
| (Italiano) Morphea Storia. ISN. |
| Spanish Morphea Patient and Caregiver Stories |
| (Español/Spanish) Morfea Historia. ISN. |
