[Cutaneous carcinoma induced by radiotherapy: a report of 31 cases]

Depilatory radiotherapy was used in the sixties as a treatment for ringworm in Tunisia. Subsequently some of these patients developed radio-induced carcinomas of the scalp. To present the epidemiological, clinical, pathological, therapeutic features and out come of radio-induced cutaneous carcinomas. We conducted a retrospective study performed in the dermatology department of the La Rabta hospital of Tunis over a 6- year-period recording all histologically confirmed carcinomas in patients irradiated in childhood for tinea capitis. Thirty one patients were included with 49 tumors: 47 basal cell carcinomas and 2 squamous cell carcinomas. The average latent period between the irradiation and the appearance of the carcinomas was of 35.7 years. The average age was 53 years. A male predominance was noted, with a sex ratio M/F of 6.75. Clinically, basal cell carcinomas were nodular in all cases. Surgery was indicated in 90% of cases. Cryosurgery and radiotherapy were used respectively in 1 and 2 patients. Our study shows that radio-induced cutaneous carcinomas are widely dominated by basal cell carcinoma. They arise, approximately, ten years earlier than carcinoma in patients with no history of scalp irradiation. However X-ray exposure does not seem to influence clinical or histological presentation, therapeutic modalities nor prognosis of these tumors. The prognosis of radioinduced cutaneous carcinomas was globally similar to that of other cutaneous carcinomas with same histological type and equivalent degree of invasion

[Dermatologic disorders of the athlete: a report of 30 cases?]

Participation in athletic activities is associated with a variety of skin problems. We aimed to precise the most important sports related dermatoses in athletes. We conducted transversal study on 30 athletes of 2 teams: one of soccer's and the other of basketball players. For each athlete dermatological exam was practiced. 18 soccer players and 12 basketball players were enrolled; the mean age was about 25.3 years [18-35 years]. The results suggest that athletic activity seems to be a predisposing factor for cutaneous infections [87%] especially fungal infections [90%]. Traumatic lesions were also frequent in our athletes [20/30], dominated by calluses and nail disorders [80%]. Sports-related dermatoses include infections, traumatic entities, allergic contact dermatitis, environmental encounters, exacerbation of preexisting dermatoses, thus regular dermatological screening of athletes is critical for rapid identification and treatment of dermatoses distrusting sport performance

[Systemic corticosteroids and their place in the management of haemorrhagic erysipelas]

Haemorrhagic erysipelas is a recently described clinical condition. Our aim is to study the clinical and evolutive particularities of haemorrhagic erysipelas treated with adjuvant corticotherapy. It's a retrospective study of 6 cases of erysipelas of the lower limbs with serious local signs [purpura, bullae, petechia]. Surgical examination as well as evaluation of muscular enzymes blood level were achieved in all cases. Adequate antibiotherapy and rapidly degressive systemic corticosteroids [0.5mg/Kg daily] were prescribed. Fever, pain and cutaneous signs regressed rapidly. Haemorrhagic erysipelas is different from common erysipelas by the presence of serious local signs [bullae, purpura], by its bad response to adequate antibiotics and by its response to systemic steroids