ABSTRACT
Morgellons disease is a rare disease with unknown etiology. Herein, we report the first case of Morgellons disease in Korea. A 30-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of pruritic erythematous patches and erosions on the arms, hands, and chin. She insisted that she had fiber-like materials under her skin, which she had observed through a magnifying device. We performed skin biopsy, and observed a fiber extruding from the dermal side of the specimen. Histopathological examination showed only mild lymphocytic infiltration, and failed to reveal evidence of any microorganism. The polymerase chain reaction for Borrelia burgdorferi was negative in her serum.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Arm , Asian People , Biopsy , Borrelia burgdorferi , Chin , Hand , Korea , Morgellons Disease , Nerve Fibers, Myelinated , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Rare Diseases , SkinABSTRACT
Bortezomib (Velcade(R)) is proteasome inhibitor that is used as a first-line therapy for multiple myeloma. It can cause gastrointestinal, hematologic, and neuromuscular side effects, and a cutaneous reaction is one of its common adverse reactions. To date, several bortezomib-induced cutaneous adverse reactions have been reported, including folliculitis-like rash, pruriginous rash, purpuric rash, mouth swelling, stomatitis-mucositis, edema in the lower limbs, telogen effluvium, and vasculitis. In the Korean literature, only one case of vasculitis has been reported earlier. Two patients have presented with multiple plaques on the trunk at our clinic. The lesions developed several days after bortezomib chemotherapy, and disappeared spontaneously in about 1 week. Herein, we report bortezomib-induced drug eruption presenting as multiple plaques on the trunk with a review of the relevant literature.
Subject(s)
Humans , Drug Eruptions , Drug Therapy , Edema , Exanthema , Lower Extremity , Mouth , Multiple Myeloma , Proteasome Inhibitors , Vasculitis , BortezomibABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Longitudinal melanonychia is characterized by pigmented bands on the nail plate. It is not unusual to encounter pediatric melanonychia patients in the dermatologic clinic. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical manifestations of melanonychia in childhood in Korea, we reviewed the pediatric patient registry of a tertiary referral hospital in Korea. METHODS: Patients under fifteen years of age with longitudinal melanonychia referred between January, 2001, and March, 2015, were enrolled in the study. All patients had clinical as well as photo records. Clinical characteristics including age, sex, location, disease duration, width and color of pigmentation, morphological change over time, underlying disease, and dermoscopic images or biopsy findings were evaluated where available. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients had 158 pigmented nails, with more than one melanonychia identified in 14 patients. The patient sample included 43 male and 49 female patients with an average age of 6.1 years at diagnosis. A follow-up examination was performed for 132 nails in 80 patients with a mean period of 27.8 months and morphological changes were identified in 61 nails. Changes included remission or aggravation of pigmentation. In 48% and 17% of patients, nail plate dystrophy and Hutchinson's sign were observed, respectively. Dermoscopic image analysis was available for 79 nails. A nail biopsy was performed for 8 nails and none showed evidence of malignant melanoma. CONCLUSION: Pediatric longitudinal melanonychia generally presents a benign nature despite overt morphological changes, diffuse pigmentation, or Hutchinson's sign. Characteristically, melanonychia in childhood is frequently accompanied by nail dystrophy. Based on clinical reference of our study, aggressive nail biopsy may not be routinely necessary in pediatric melanonychia.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Biopsy , Diagnosis , Follow-Up Studies , Korea , Melanoma , Pigmentation , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
In full-thickness defects of the nasal alar rim, to achieve projection and maintain airway patency, cartilage graft is frequently needed. However, cartilage graft presents a challenge in considerations such as appropriate donor site, skeletal shape and size, and healing of the donor area. To avoid these demerits, we tried primary closure of alar rim defects by also making the contralateral normal ala smaller. We treated two patients who had a full-thickness nasal alar defect after tumor excision. Cartilage graft was considered for the reconstruction. However, their alar rims were overly curved and their nostril openings were large. To utilize their nasal shape, we did primary closure of the defect rather than cartilage graft, and then downsized the contralateral nasal ala by means of wedge resection to make the alae symmetric. Both patients were satisfied with their aesthetic results, which showed a smaller nostril and nearly straight alar rims. Moreover, functionally, there was no discomfort during breathing in both patients. We propose our idea as one of the reconstruction options for nasal alar defects. It is a simple and easy-to-perform procedure, in addition to enhancing the nasal contour. This method would be useful for patients with a large nostril and an overly curved alar rim.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cartilage , Nose Deformities, Acquired , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Respiration , Tissue Donors , TransplantsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Foremost fine hairs in the frontal hairline region are critical in hair transplantation for hairline correction (HTHC) in women. However, there are few studies on a nonsurgical revisionary method for improving an unnatural foremost hairline with thick donor hairs resulting from a previous HTHC. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of using a hair removal laser (HRL) system to create fine hairs in Asian women with thick donor hairs. METHODS: Through a retrospective chart review, the HRL parameters, hair diameter (measured with a micrometer before and after the procedures), subjective results after the procedures, adverse effects, and the number of procedures were investigated. The reduction rate of the hair diameter was calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-four women who received long-pulse Neodymium-Doped:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet therapy after HTHC were included. The parameters were as follows: delivered laser energy, 35~36 J/cm2; pulse duration, 6 ms; and spot size, 10 mm. The mean number of laser sessions was 2.6. The mean hair diameter significantly decreased from 80.0+/-11.5 microm to 58.4+/-13.2 microm (p=0.00). The mean rate of hair diameter reduction was -25.7% (range, -44.6% to 5.7%). The number of laser sessions and the hair diameter after the procedures showed a negative correlation (r=-0.410, p=0.046). Most of the patients (87.5%) reported subjective improvement of their hairlines. Most complications were transient and mild. CONCLUSION: HRL can be an alternative method for creating fine hairs and revising foremost hairline in Asian women with thick donor hairs.