Eosinophilic fasciitis difficult to differentiate from scleroderma: A case report

BACKGROUND 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. CASE SUMMARY We report a case of EF in a young woman diagnosed by tissue biopsy, confirming the difficulty of differential diagnosis with scleroderma. CONCLUSION 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.