Journal of Dermatological Case Reports

Mucormycosis of the scalp is a rare cutaneous presentation of the disease. It is also an unusual infection in children. We present the case of a 4-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who presented with atypical cutaneous mucormycosis simulating an ecthyma gangrenosum lesion. Risk factors for the infection are diabetes, neoplastic diseases, immunosuppression in organ transplant recipients, and neutropenia. The cutaneos forms have been associated with trauma, burns and surgical wounds. First line treatment is amphotericin B...

BACKGROUND: Apremilast is a new immunomodulatory drug, a small molecule inhibitor of PDE4, which down-regulates the expression of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 17, interleukin 23. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We describe a case of a 54-year-old man with erythroderma in the course of psoriasis (PASI=49), with contraindications to other psoriasis therapies, in whom total clearance of skin lesions was achieved by day 20 after therapy with apremilast at a dose of 30 mg bid (ΔPASI = 100)...

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing vasculitides are basically characterized by vessel wall neutrophil infiltration and necrosis and they can occur as a primary process or secondary to an underlying disease. Although Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSp) is the more frequent primary vasculitis in childhood, sometimes it has to be distinguished from other secondary vasculitides induced by infections, drugs, vaccines, or immune-mediated disorders. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We report a case of a 14-year-old girl with cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis, appearing in the course of acute Epstein-Barr virus infection...

BACKGROUND: Facial hypermelanosis is a significant cause of cosmetic disfigurement, social embarrassment and psychological morbidity affecting quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To study clinicoepidemlogic patterns of facial hypermelanoses among men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of all adult males presenting with facial hypermelanoses were analyzed for this retrospective cross sectional study for demographic details, duration, cosmetic usage, sun exposure, drug intake, infections, systemic or cutaneous diseases, and family history of hypermelanotic dermatosis...

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by notable heterogeneity in clinical presentation and behavior. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We describe 3 patients with lichenoid lesions of the upper lip and upper anterior gingiva. These cases probably represent a clinical subtype of lichenoid lesions associated with microbial antigenicity and are characterized by persistency. All three patients had a long history of previous ineffective treatments and all three showed an excellent response to a combination of clarithromycin (2 x 250 mg/day) and prednisolone (15 mg/day)...

INTRODUCTION: Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is a rare autosomal dominant genodermatosis characterized by cutaneous fibrofolliculomas and/or trichodiscomas, lung cysts, spontaneous pneumothorax and renal tumors. However, its clinical expression is highly variable. This syndrome is caused by germline mutations in the folliculin gene ( FLCN ) on chromosome 17p11.2. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: Two men, 60 and 39-year-old, presented with a several year history of asymptomatic whitish papules scattered over the face and neck...

BACKGROUND: Skin metastases occur in 0.7% to 9% of all patients with cancer and are usually considered a late event in the evolution of most visceral carcinomas. The development of a nodular metastatic lesion on the nasal tip is known as clown nose sign. MAIN OBSERVATION: We report a 64-year-old man that developed a nodular lesion on his nasal tip as first manifestation of squamous lung carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The biopsy of the cutaneous metastasis may be helpful to histopathologically confirm the suspected primary tumour avoiding invasive diagnostic procedures...

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids have become available as over the counter drugs and are widely misused for various conditions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the unjustified use of topical corticosteroids for facial skin. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with facial dermatoses and topical corticosteroid misapplication daily over face for not less than 30 days were included in the study...

Bullous lichen planus is a rare variant of lichen planus. It is characterized by vesicles or bullae, which usually develop in the context of pre-existing LP lesions. It is often misdiagnosed and should be differentiated from other subepidermal bullous diseases especially lichen planus pemphigoides. The diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and is confirmed by histopathology and immunofluoresence. The clinical features of bullous lichen planus include typical lichen planus lesions, accompanied by the formation of bullae on the affected or perilesional skin...

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common skin disease and predominantly affects on the face of middle-aged women. It exceptionally occurs on the extrafacial areas such as ear, neck, axilla, and upper extremities, and has been reported as disseminated rosacea. MAIN OBSERVATION: A 40-year-old Japanese female presented with one-month history of erythematous skin eruption with burning sensation on the face, neck, and upper limbs. Physical examination showed rosacea-like eruption on the face as well as multiple papules disseminated on the neck, forearms, and hands...

BACKGROUND: Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. First described by Brandt in 1936 and was named by Danbolt. A mutation in the SLC39A4 gene on chromosome 8 q24.3 is responsible for this disorder, which encodes zinc transporter Zip4. The diagnosis is made by the clinical presentation and histopathology and laboratory tests. In this case, we reported a twin presented with a typical rash and low zinc level. To our knowledge, very few cases reported as a twin with typical acrodermatitis enteropathica presentation...

BACKGROUND: Bullous lichen planus (BLP) is a rare variant of lichen planus, characterized by the development of vesicular and bullous lesions, of skin, nails, hair and/or mucosa. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We present a case of 63-year-old woman with BLP, unresponsive to previous therapies with topical corticosteroids, topical calcipotriol, antihistamines and oral cyclosporine (4 mg/kg/day for 4 months). She was already receiving treatment for arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus...

BACKGROUND: Multinucleated Cell Angiohistiocytoma (MCAH) is a rare disease, first described by Smith and Wilson Jones in 1985. Since then, less than 100 cases have been reported in the literature. Clinically it is characterized by papules or plaques arising from a specific anatomical area such as lower extremities, dorsum of the hands and face. Some generalized cases have been reported. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We report a case of 77-year-old woman who presented with multiple itching...

BACKGROUND: Erosive oral lichen planus and desquamative gingivitis are uncommon but severe debilitating variants of oral lichen planus. Treatment of these presentations is difficult and challenging. MAIN OBSERVATION: A 44-year-old woman was referred to the dermatology clinic with chronic painful lichen planus-related gingivitis and buccal erosions. She has failed multiple treatments including topical clobetasol and tacrolimus, intralesional corticosteroids and several systemic and immunosuppressive agents...

BACKGROUND: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome (HLRCC) is an autosomal dominant syndrome due to mutation in fumarate hydratase. Patients with HLRCC frequently develop cutaneous and uterine leiomyomata and are at risk for renal cell carcinoma. Rarely, other malignancies have been reported. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We report the development of basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in two siblings with genetically-confirmed HLRCC. CONCLUSIONS: It is unclear whether the development of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma in our patients is due directly to their mutations in the gene encoding fumarate hydratase, or genetic susceptibility at another unrelated locus, or whether these are incidental lesions...

BACKGROUND: Nevogenesis is a complex process involving several pathogenetic mechanisms, including genetic factors, hormonal influences and UV-radiation. Trauma has been described as a triggering factor for an alternative pathway of nevogenesis. Eruptive melanocytic nevi (EMN), related either to immunosuppression or to blistering disorders, represent a special type of nevi probably induced by the disruption of the dermo-epidermal junction and consequent proliferation of quiescent pigment cells during re-epithelization...

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa simplex associated with muscular dystrophy is a genetic skin disease caused by plectin deficiency. A case of a 19-year-old Czech patient affected with this disease and a review all previously published clinical cases are presented. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: In our patient, skin signs of the disease developed after birth. Bilateral ptosis at the age of 8 years was considered as the first specific symptom of muscular dystrophy. Since then, severe scoliosis, urological and psychiatric complication have quickly developed...

INTRODUCTION: Enzalutamide (Xtandi®) is a new potent inhibitor of the signaling pathway for the androgen receptor with a half-life of 5.8 days. It has been on the market for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer since November 2013. OBJECTIVE: We report the first case of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) induced by enzalutamide . OBSERVATION: A 62-year-old male patient with no significant medical history, was diagnosed in April 2014 with metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma...

BACKGROUND: Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa is a rare cutaneous complication of chronic lymphatic obstruction. It is most commonly caused by bacterial infection, trauma, neoplasia, obesity, and venous stasis. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: In this report, we describe a case of elephantiasis nostras verrucosa involving the scrotum and perineal area in a 32-year-old. The lesions were excised, and full-thickness skin grafting of the penis, scrotum, and perineal skin was performed...

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, ulcerative, destructive, non-infectious dermatologic disease and it is one clinical entity within the spectrum of neutrophilic dermatoses. Visceral involvement, manifesting as sterile neutrophilic infiltrates in sites other than skin and, is infrequent. Splenic involvement is very rare. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We present a case of a 58-year-old woman with pyoderma gangrenosum with spleen involvement and review all reports of similar cases...