Three Cases of Acquired Digital Fibrokeratoma Occuring on the Sole / 대한피부과학회지

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADFK) is a solitary round, firm and hyperkeratotic projection seen most commonly on the digits, but it is occasionally found on the palm, dorsum of the hand, wrist, periungual area, and rarely on the sole. We report herein three cases of ADFK in an adult occuring on the sole. As being continuously exposed to the pressure, ADFKs are transformed and may easily be mistaken for more common plantar lesions including plantar warts and corns.

A Case of Rheumatoid Vasculitis / 대한피부과학회지

Rheumatoid vasculitis usually occurs in patients with long standing, seropositive, erosive rheumatoid arthritis. It involves typically small to medium-sized vessels and is associated with peripheral neuropathy, digital gangrene, nail fold infarcts, livedo reticularis, and palpable purpura. Histologic examination of skin biopsy specimens usually shows leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We report a case of rheumatoid vasculitis developed on both extremities in a 63-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years.

A Case of Solitary Neurofibroma Occuring on the Upper Eyelid / 대한피부과학회지

Neurofibroma may assume one of three growth patterns: localized, diffuse, or plexiform. The localized form is seen most commonly as a superficial, solitary tumor in normal individuals. Any area of the body may be involved in solitary neurofibroma, but the head and trunk appear to be affected usually. Involvement of the orbital cavity, nasal cavity, maxilla, and mandible has been reported, but the upper eyelid remains an unusual location for solitary neurofibroma. We report a case of solitary neurofibroma in a 55-year-old female patient, who presented with a 5-year history of 0.9 X 0.9cm sized, soft, dome-shaped nodule on the left upper eyelid with an unusual presentation.

Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Findings of Several Pigmented Skin Lesions after Copper Vapor Laser Treatment / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: There have been only a few morphological studies after laser treatment of pigmented skin lesions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to investigate the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical changes following copper vapor laser treatment of superficial pigmented skin lesions. METHODS: Three patients with Becker's nevus, 1 patient with partial unilateral lentiginosis, and 1 patient with nevus spilus were irradiated with copper vapor laser. Forty-two biopsies were taken before, immediately after, and 3 months after laser treatment. Hematoxylin-eosin, Fontana-Masson, and S-100 protein staining were performed for the evaluation of the histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of the specimens. RESULTS: Clinically, immediate greyish whitening, immediate erythema, and delayed edema were observed immediately after copper vapor treatment. Histopathologically, suprabasilar separation with elongated cells in the basal cell layer was observed immediately after laser treatment. A few vacuolated cells were found mainly in the basal cell layer. Fontana-Masson and S-100 protein staining positivity decreased a lot in the epidermis, but they hardly decreased in the dermis immediately after laser treatment. CONCLUSION: For the treatment of pigmented skin lesions, copper vapor laser was more effective in the epidermal pigmented structures than the dermal pigmented structures. Selective photothermolysis of melanosome was not so prominent after copper vapor laser treatment.

Cytokeratin Expression in Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The histologic distinction between basal cell carcinoma(BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is sometimes difficult, but clinically important, because SCC has worse prognosis than BCC. Cytokeratins(CKs) are the major component of intermediate filaments and are subdivided into at least 20 different polypeptides. Monoclonal antibodies developed against these individual keratins become very useful in the classification of the major types of epithelial tumors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to investigate the usefulness of CK staining in distinguishing BCC from SCC. METHODS: We studied 10 cases of BCC and 10 cases of SCC with 6 anticytokeratin antibodies including AE1, CAM5.2, CK7, CK16, CK10, and CK8. RESULTS: All cases of BCC and SCC stained with AE1. Six and 5 cases out of 10 cases of BCC stained with CAM5,2 and CK7, respectively, but all cases of SCC stained with neither CAM5.2 nor CK7. All cases of SCC stained with CK16, but all cases of BCC did not. Two out of 10 cases of SCC stained focally with CK10, while all cases of BCC did not stain with CK10. All cases of BCC and SCC did not stain with CK8. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a panel of antibodies for CKs including CK7, CAM5.2, and CK16 may be useful in distinguishing BCC from SCC. In particular, CK16 may be the most useful marker because it was positive for all cases of SCC while negative for all cases of BCC.

A Case of Angioleiomyoma on the Lower Lip / 대한피부과학회지

Angioleiomyoma is a solitary form of leiomyoma that usually occurs in the subcutis and is composed of numerous thick-walled vessels. It occurs more frequently in women and preferentially on the extremities, particularly the lower leg. The tumor is usually painful and tender. We report a rare case of asymptomatic angioleiomyoma occurring on the lower lip.

A Case of Recalcitrant Psoriasis Improved with Tacrolimus (FK 506) / 대한피부과학회지

Tacrolimus(FK 506) is a powerful immunosuppressant. Recently, topical and systemic tacrolimus was known to have therapeutic effects in various dermatologic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pyodema gangrenosum, and Beh et's disease. A 48-year-old woman presented with psoriasis of 40 years duration, which was recalcitrant to any therapies including topical steroids and calcipotriol, UVB, PUVA, acitretin, cyclosporine, and methotrexate. Therefore, systemic tacrolimus treatment, at a dose of 2 to 6 mg per day, was initiated, and complete resolution of the lesions was observed after 2 months. We report a case of recalcitrant psoriasis improved with tacrolimus.