A Case of a Glomus Tumor Arising in an Unusual Site / 대한피부과학회지

A glomus tumor, is a benign neoplasm, which is derived from a normal glomus body, and participates in thermal regulation. This tumor is relatively uncommon and usually occurs in the peripheral soft tissue, most frequently in the digits, where the glomus bodies are normally present. We experienced a case of a glomus tumor in a 60-year-old man who had a solitary, dome-shaped, grayish blue-colored papule on his back. This was present in an area where a normal glomus body might not usually occur.

Immunohistochemical Labeling of Melanocytic Differentiation Antibodies in Melanocytic Nevi and Malignant Melanomas / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma is the cancer derived from melanocyte and its prevalence and mortality has increased constantly. Recently, newly developed monoclonal antibodies such as antibodies to MART-1, tyrosinase, TRP-1, MITF and NKI-beteb are frequently used in the diagnosis of melanoma. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated these antibodies to see if there are differences of positivity and expression pattern of immunohistochemical labelings between melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas. METHODS: We have examined 6 antibodies (antibody to S-100, tyrosinase, TRP-1, MART-1, MITF and HMB-45) in their expressions in 8 malignant melanomas and 24 benign melanocytic nevi. RESULTS: No remarkable difference in positivity of staining between benign melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas was observed. The staining pattern for S-100 protein is homogenous in all melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas. HMB-45 showed staining confined to the junctional and superficial dermal components in both diseases. Tyrosinase and TRP-1 showed staining confined to the junctional and superficial dermal cells in most benign melanocytic nevi and variable in malignant melanomas. Although more variable patterns were found in the malignant melanomas, MART-1 demonstrated homogenous staining of all cells in the benign lesions. The staining pattern of MITF in melanocytic nevi was principally in junctional and superficial dermal components, whereas it was homogenous in malignant melanomas. CONCLUSIONS: It should be stated that none of the melanocytic differentiation antibodies has any diagnostic value in differentiating between melanoma and nevus cells, but new monoclonal antibodies taken together could contribute to the detection of malignant melanoma due to their high specificity and complementary natures.

A Case of Dopamine Gangrene / 대한피부과학회지

Dopamine is a catecholamine used in the treatment of circulatory shock of various etiologies. The usual dose range used is from 1 to 25 ug/kg/min. When used at higher doses, the prominent effect of dopamine on the vasculature is vasoconstriction induced by stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors. We report a case of dopamine gangrene. The gangrene developed on the injection site in the right dorsum of foot in a 43-year-old man during infusion of dopamine for treatment of septic shock. The gangrenous lesion healded after change of injection site to subclavian vein. The dosage of dopamine was not higher, we think that the gangrene developed due to the local vasoconstriction caused by dopamine leakage from the vessels.