Scurvy is a rarely seen disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C. We 
present a case of scurvy in a 65-year-old man. The patient reported heavy 
alcohol abuse over the last several years. He also reported that his diet 
consisted of cheese pizzas only. On physical examination, he was noted to have 
spontaneous ecchymosis of his lower extremities (denying any history of trauma); 
poor dentition; and corkscrew hairs on his chest, abdomen, and legs, with 
associated perifollicular petechia. Punch biopsy of his skin lesions revealed 
perivascular lymphohistiocytic inflammation, with some focal perifollicular 
erythrocyte extravasation. A serum ascorbic acid level was <0.12 mg/dL (normal 
range, 0.20-1.9 mg/dL). A diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency was made. The 
patient was successfully treated with 1 g/d vitamin C for the first 5 days, 
followed by a dose of 500 mg/d. Though scurvy is rarely seen in modern times, it 
is important to identify who is at risk and to recognize the clear and classic 
signs and symptoms associated with scurvy. Failure to diagnose this disease can 
potentially lead to expensive and unnecessary medical tests, as well as missing 
a very simple treatment that can prevent infection and even death.