Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH) is a rare autosomal dominant cutaneous disorder characterized by a mixture of hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules of various sizes on the limbs. Genetic studies have identified mutations in the DSRAD gene, encoding double-stranded RNA-specific adenosine deaminase, to be responsible for this disorder. In this study, we identified a novel mutation of DSRAD gene in a Chinese family with DSH. The mutation is a novel heterozygous nucleotide T-->C transition at position 3617 in exon 15 of the DSRAD gene, which induces a M1206T change in the putative deaminase domain of DSRAD. Our study expands the database on the DSRAD gene mutations in DSH.