Journal of Dermatological Case Reports

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease, which is characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, presence of specific antibodies and vascular involvement. Capillaroscopy is a useful method for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with systemic sclerosis. Trichoscopy is a rapid, non-invasive technique, which has become a standard procedure in differential diagnosis of scalp and hair diseases. The aim of this study was to assess whether trichoscopy may be applied in imaging microvessels in patients with systemic sclerosis...

Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is a noninfective dermatosis of the gestation period characterized by multiple pruritic follicular papules and/or pustules which is not uncommonly mistaken for other similar skin disorders that may occur during pregnancy. In the present article we describe the usefulness of dermoscopy as a supportive diagnostic tool in a case of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy. The main (always present) dermoscopic clue consisted of a vellus hair in the centre of each papule/pustule. Moreover, most papules showed a central yellowish-orange hue with some dotted vessels and irregular haemorrhagic spots...

Postradiation sarcomas are rare and highly malignant tumors which may appear as a consequence of radiotherapy. They may originate on bone or soft tissues.We report the case of a patient who developed a malignant fibrous histiocytoma 35 years after radiotherapy for a melanoma on her right leg.

BACKGROUND: Etanercept and other anti-TNF-alpha agents have been indicated as a therapeutic option in severe drug reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Etanercept has been shown to quickly reduce the detachment of the epidermis and shorten healing time. Cases of etanercept-induced severe adverse drug reactions were also described. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: A 27-year-old woman with a 4-year history of etanercept and sulfasalazine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was admitted with Stevens-Johnson syndrome...

BACKGROUND: Aquagenic keratoderma is a dermatosis characterized by transient whitish and transluscent hyperwrinkling after water exposure. The aim of the current report was to present a sporadic and familial cases of aquagenic keratoderma. OBSERVATION: Sporadic Case: A 38-year-old female patient presented with eruption in the right hand after exposure to water. The patient was placed on systemic acitretin therapy with the diagnosis of idiopathic acquired aquagenic keratoderma...

BACKGROUND: Erythroderma is an uncommon and severe dermatological manifestation of a variety of diseases. It is commonly challenging to find the underlying cause. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of the disease in patients with erythroderma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data including the clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, histopathology and follow-up information were collected from patients with erythroderma admitted to our department between 2000 and 2010...

Calcinosis cutis is a rare condition characterized by the deposition of insoluble calcium salts in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Dystrophic calcinosis cutis appears as a result of local tissue damage or abnormalities, such as alterations in extra-cellular matrix proteins or subcutaneous tissue with normal calcium and phosphate serum levels. It has been rarely described as a late complication of burns. Latency periods of 15-54 years have been reported. We describe the case of a 57-year-old man with dystrophic calcinosis cutis in a burn scar, which developed 42 years after the skin injury...

Porokeratoses are a group of different entities that belong to the skin keratinization disorders. From the histological point of view the main and common characteristic of these disorders is the presence of compact parakeratotic columns known as cornoid lamellae. All varieties should be carefully treated and followed-up because of the risk of developing malignant epithelial tumors. We report the successful response to photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a pediatric patient diagnosed with linear porokeratosis.

Cutaneous ciliated cysts are benign lesions occurring primarily on the lower extremity of girls and young women. We present a case of a cutaneous ciliated Mullerian cyst arising in the lower leg of a 14-year-old girl, with brief discussion of etiology and diagnosis. This is a rare entity with approximately 50 cases in the literature.

BACKGROUND: A giant cutaneous horn (GCH) is a morphologic description of conical lesion with a dense, hyperkeratotic protrusion of more than 1 cm in height that resembles an animal horn but without its bony core. These can occur in association with benign, premalignant or malignant cutaneous diseases which can be determined by excision and histopathologic review of the base. A PubMed search (performed June 2015) revealed 54 cases of giant cutaneous horns in world literature. The most common site affected was the scalp followed by lip and leg...

BACKGROUND: Ichthyosis linearis circumflexa is a rare form of ichthyosis characterized by polycyclic and annular lesions which are bordered by a double-edged scale. Netherton syndrome is a genodermatosis in which ichthyosis linearis circumflexa is accompanied by characteristic hair shaft abnormalities and atopic diathesis. Different treatment modalities such as emmolients, keratolytics, calcipotriene, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, systemic retinoids, phototherapy and photochemotherapy have been used with variable results...

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions to intralesional corticosteroids are very rare and have been infrequently reported. Patch testing is considered the gold standard for diagnosing contact allergic dermatitis. However, intradermal testing is thought to be more accurate and sensitive in selected cases. MAIN OBSERVATION: We describe a case of a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to intralesional triamcinolone acetonide following the treatment of alopecia areata...

BACKGROUND: Favre-Racouchot syndrome (nodular cutaneous elastosis with cysts and comedones) is a cutaneous disease characterized by coexistence of cysts, comedones and elastotic nodules in actinically damaged skin, typically on the face. Ultraviolet radiation plays a significant role in the development of the disease. Unilateral lesions have been described. MAIN OBSERVATION: In this report we present two cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in a unilateral Favre-Racouchot plaque...

INTRODUCTION: Although Behçet's disease is well-documented in Eastern populations, epidemiologic data in Sub-Saharan African population is scarce. The aim of this study was to define the epidemiologic and therapeutic aspects as well as clinical course of Behçet's disease in African black population. RESULTS: The study included 50 patients with Behçet's disease. The average age was 32 (18-67) years. A total of 31 patients were men and 19 were women. Two patients had a positive family history of Behçet's disease...

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common cutaneous malignancy after basal cell carcinoma. Although the gold standard of diagnosis for squamous cell carcinoma is biopsy followed by histopathology evaluation, optical non-invasive diagnostic tools have obtained increased attention. Dermoscopy has become one of the basic diagnostic methods in clinical practice. The most common dermoscopic features of squamous cell carcinoma include clustered vascular pattern, glomerular vessels and hyperkeratosis. Under reflectance confocal microscopy, squamous cell carcinoma shows an atypical honeycomb or disarranged pattern of the spinous-granular layer of the epidermis, round nucleated bright cells in the epidermis and round vessels in the dermis...

Cutaneous scars develop as a result of a defective wound healing process. Scars are commonly visible as erythematous, sometimes disfiguring lesions which might be stigmatizing for the affected patient. Only a few therapies to improve the appearance of scars are available. Recently, brimonidine - a selective α2-receptor-agonist which causes vasoconstriction of small cutaneous vessels - was approved for the treatment of erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea. Topical brimonidine might also be helpful to improve redness of immature scars...

The millipedes (also known as "gongolos") are arthropods characterized by a cylindrical body consisting of rings. When threatened, they release chemicals that can cause erythema and hyperpigmentation. We report the case of a patient who developed a darkened macule on the plantar region after stepping on a millipede. Dermatoscopic examination showed a parallel-ridge pattern, which is considered typical for acral melanoma. A detailed history was essential for the diagnosis, as the clinical and dermatoscopic features suggested a malignant melanocytic lesion...

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous involvement by Hodgkin lymphoma is extremely rare and usually follows extensive involvement of the lymph nodes. Cutaneous manifestations of Hodgkin lymphoma may be divided into specific and non-specific. Generalized pruritus is one of the most common non-specific presentations of Hodgkin lymphoma as is cutaneous granulomas. Such signs and symptoms should prompt thorough physical exam, including evaluation of lymph nodes, especially in a young patient. MAIN OBSERVATION: We report a case of a 22-year-old man who presented with night sweats, weight loss, dry cough, and generalized maculopapular eruption that started with a large patch in the center of the chest and spread to the extremities...

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is a deep fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. The infection usually involves the lungs, the central nervous system as well as the skin, the bones and the urinary tract. Immunocompromised individuals, including solid organ transplant recipients, are at higher risk for cryptococcal infections. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We present a 40-year-old renal transplant recipient who developed a slightly painful, erythematous, indurated plaque on his thigh several years after a kidney transplant...

BACKGROUND: Inteleukin (IL)12 and IL23 are two main cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated disease. IL12 is produced by macrophages and B lymphocytes and mediates differentiation of Th1 lymphocytes, while IL23 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine essential for the differentiation of Th17 cells. Ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against the p40 protein subunit shared by IL12 and IL23, therefore it blocks the signal transmission of both cytokines. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We present two cases and discuss the long-term efficacy of ustekinumab as a treatment of psoriasis in patients affected by autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome, who presented with severe psoriasis after anti-TNF treatment...