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Grover Disease — SCE Dermatology MCQ

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HardBlistering DiseasesGrover DiseaseSCE Dermatology

A man receiving vemurafenib develops a sudden intensely pruritic papulovesicular eruption on the central chest and back. Biopsy shows focal acantholysis with dyskeratosis and no viral cytopathic change. Which diagnosis best links the clinicopathology to his treatment?

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Correct answer: D — Drug-induced Grover disease associated with systemic BRAF-inhibitor treatment

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as B · B = shown as D · A = shown as E

B is correct. BRAF inhibitors including vemurafenib and dabrafenib are recognised triggers of a Grover-like eruption. The intensely itchy truncal papulovesicles and focal acantholysis with dyskeratosis fit transient acantholytic dermatosis; absent viral change, basement-membrane immunopathology, suprabasal acantholysis or follicular organisms argues against the alternatives.

Reference: DermNet: transient acantholytic dermatosis: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/transient-acantholytic-dermatosis