Concerning Adult Colloid Milium

Abstract

Since 1866, when first described, colloid milium has been considered uncommon. In 1950, Ferreira-Marques and van Uden1reviewed the literature and could ascertain only 60 recorded cases. In 1955, Zoon,2who wrote authoritatively on the subject, referred to colloid milium as rare. In 1959, Guin and Seale3presented 7 cases, collected over a period of 6 years, bringing the total number of reported cases to just over 90. Significantly, Quin and Seale state that they do not believe the condition is as rare as the sparsity of reports would indicate. This article presents a report based on 28 new cases, obtained under the rather particular circumstances of industrial practice in a tropical oil refinery. The first 2 cases were noted the same day, during routine periodic health examination. Histopathological diagnosis initiated further investigation, and over the next 12 months, beginning October, 1957, 28 histologically proven cases were