A Case of Lentigo Maligna and Basal Cell Carcinoma That Developed on the Face / 대한피부과학회지

Lentigo maligna (LM) is a subtype of melanoma in situ that may become lentigo maligna melanoma. LM is a pigmented lesion that most commonly occurs on sun-exposed skin inthe elderly. Intense exposure to ultraviolet light also accounts for nonmelanotic skin tumors, and particularly basal cell carcinoma (BCC). We herein report on a case of LM and BCC on the right face of a 76-year-old woman. She presented with a longstanding irregular-shaped brown to black pigmented patch on the right infra-orbital area, and a pigmented dome-shaped papule on the right nasolabial fold. The histopathologic findings were consistent with LM and BCC. We performed surgical excisions and there has been no recurrence for 10 months.

A Case of Fibroma of the Tendon Sheath on the Elbow / 대한피부과학회지

Fibroma of the tendon sheath is a benign soft tissue tumor and this mostly occurs in the distal portion of an extremity. The tumor usually appears as a slow-growing, firm, painless, small nodule in association with tendons and tendon sheaths. Histopathologically, it shows a well-demarcated nodule that consists of haphazardly-arranged, fibroblast-like spindle cells that are embedded in a dense collagenous matrix. A 52-year-old woman presented with a tender, solitary, 2.5x2.0 cm-sized, subcutaneous nodule on the right elbow. The skin biopsy specimen showed that the well-circumscribed tumor contained densely-arranged collagen areas with spindle cells and slit-like vascular channels. We herein report on a rare case of fibroma of a tendon sheath on the right elbow.

Efficacy of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Dermatological Punch biopsy / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Punch biopsy has been used frequently as a diagnostic method in dermatologic field. However dermatologist administrated antibiotics is routine for the prevention of wound infection. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in punch biopsy. METHODS: Four hundred and one patients undergoing punch biopsy were studied prospectively. Patients were randomly split in to two groups: group I received prophylactic antibiotics after punch biopsy (197 patients), group II didn't receive any antibiotic after punch biopsy (204 patients). Wound infection was defined as a condition of erythema, edema, and pain or purulent discharge. RESULTS: Patients demographics and skin disease were similar between two groups. Biopsy site were infected in 3 patients of group I and 5 patients of groups II. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacteroides fragilis were isolated from the infected biopsy site. There was no significant difference of infection rate between two groups. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics after skin punch biopsy is unnecessary.

Pathogenesis of Contact Urticaria Induced by Nettle(Urtica Thunbergiana) / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Nettles, of the plant family Urticae, cause nonimmunologic contact urticaria by stinging hairs. Light application of the leaf or stem to the skin results in the rapid development of a short-lived stinging sensation accompanied by wheal formation and itching. The types of chemical mediators causing the stinging sensation and wheal have not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: To investigate stinging and urticating substances causing contact urticaria when the skin is in contact with nettle(Urtica thunbergiana). METHODS: Twenty two volunteers were used for the clinical portion of this investigation. The time to wheal development and the evanescent time of pain and wheal were measured after pricking the forearm skin with nettle trichomes, following the administration of antihistamine, antiserotonin or corticosteroid, respectively or a combination of two, either with or without the application of substance P antagonist(capsaicin cream, 0.025%). Nettle extracts were prepared from dry stems and leaves of Urtica thunbergiana. Histamine, serotonin and substance P(SP) contents of nettle extracts were measured by gas chromatographic mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: After puncture of the skin by trichome of nettle, a stinging sensation developed within a few seconds but disappeared faster at the site where capsaicin cream had been applied than at the nonapplied skin site(p<0.05). The development and evanescent time of wheal were not significantly correlated with the application of capsaicin cream. The evanescent time of pain after pricking the skin with trichome following the administration of antiserotonin was significantly shortened at the nonapplied skin site. Pain disappeared more rapidly at the capsaicin applied site following the administration of antihistamine or antiserotonin than at the nonapplied sites(p<0.05), but not following prednisolone administration. Wheal development was delayed significantly at both the capsaicin applied and nonapplied sites after antihistamine administration(p<0.05). Histamine was detected only in the nettle extract. SP and serotonin were not detected because of their insolubility in solvents. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wheal-and-flare reaction to nettle stings is due primarily to the histamine and partly to the serotonin and SP introduced by the nettle. SP may be mainly involved and partially involved by serotonin in stinging pain.

New Selective Medium for Rapid Identification of Vibrio vulnificus from Patients with V. vulnificus Sepsis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Vibrio(V.) vulnificus is a halophilic, gram-negative bacillus that causes a fatal sepsis in patients with underlying chronic disease such as liver cirrhosis and alcoholic abuse. Because V. vulnificus infection has a fulminant course and high mortality rate, early recognition and rapid diagnosis with prompt therapy are necessary to improve survival rate. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a new selective medium for rapid identification of V. vulnificus through color change of medium according to pH from patients suspected of having V. vulnificus sepsis. METHODS: Rapid isolation and identification of V. vulnificus can be possible by modifying the component of PNC(5% peptone, 1% NaCl, and 0.08% cellobiose [pH 8.0]) broth medium. From this PNC broth, a basal broth(5% peptone+1% NaCl+cellobiose) was prepared and used to evaluate additional medium supplements(cellobiose concentration [0.08, 0.2, 0.1%], pH [6.8, 7.5, 8.0] and pH indicator dye [bromthymol blue, thymol blue, phenol red, bromcresol purple, crystal violet, cresol red, and neutral red]). To examine the rapid identification and selectivity of this basal medium according to various conditions, V. vulnificus was tested by using saline and normal human blood containing these bacteria(1, 000 bacteria/ml), respectively at 37degrees C. A positive reaction(V. vulnificus growth) appeared as color change. The selectivity and identification capacity of this new broth was tested by using other 6 Vibrio species and 14 strains of other bacteria. RESULTS: Color change appeared only in the medium including bromthymol blue and thymol blue as a pH indicator dye. It was called the basal medium containing blue dyes as PNCB(peptone, NaCl, cellobiose and blue dye) medium. It took an average time of 4.8hr for becoming aware of yellow color change in PNCB broth after cultivating with saline mixed with V. vulnificus and 6hr in PNCB broth after cultivating with blood mixed with V. vulnificus. One Vibrio species and another 3 bacteria produced color change. So we confirmed that the final composition and pH of PNCB broth medium was 5% peptone, 1% NaCl, 0.2% cellobiose, 0.0004% bromthymol blue and 0.0004% thymol blue [pH 7.5] CONCLUSIONS: PNCB broth could be used as a selective and differential medium for rapid isolation and identification of V. vulnificus in patients with V. vulnificus sepsis.

A Case of Transient Acrodermatitis Enteropathica / 대한피부과학회지

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting early infancy. This syndrome is characterized by acral and periorificial dermatitis, alopecia and intractable diarrhea. Whereas hereditary acrodermatitis enteropathica is caused by mutation affecting intestinal zinc absorption, transient acrodermatitis enteropathica is caused by inadequate supply or malabsorption of zinc in the premature infant. We report a case of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica in a 5-month-old, breast-fed premature infant.

Primary Cutaneous Aspergillosis Complicating the Grafted Skin after Burn / 대한피부과학회지

A 60-year-old healthy man was consulted with dark brown eschars and purulent discharges on the grafted skin of a burn scar on the posterior aspect of both lower extremities which had developed two weeks after the skin graft. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated by repeated fungal cultures from pus and tissue pieces. Also septate hyphae branching at an acute angle are seen in the dermis in PAS-stained section. After two weeks therapy with fluconazole and itraconazole, the patient accepted skin graft again. The skin lesion was improved after prophylactic itraconazole treatment for three weeks.

A Case of Primary Cutaneous Infection of the Burn Scar by Aspergillus niger / 대한의진균학회지

A 61-year-old healthy breeder presented with three punched out, purulent ulcers surrounded by erythematous indurated plaque on the burn scars of the dorsum of the right upper arm and hand which were developed at six months prior to visit. Aspergillus niger was isolated from the pus and tissue pieces in three consecutive cultures. After eight weeks therapy with oral itraconazole, purulent ulcers were healed leaving fibrotic scars. We report a rare case of primary cutaneous aspergillosis by A. niger in a healthy man.

A Case of Creeping Eruption / 대한피부과학회지

Creeping eruption is a syndrome characterized by the penetration in human skin of larvae from hookworms of various animals, mainly cats and dogs. A 26-year-old male presents with pruritic erythematous serpiginous linear skin lesion on the left lower leg for 2 weeks. The skin lesion was developed after walking in bare feet along the beach of an island in Philippines. Histopathologic finding showed a burrow containing numerous eosinophils and a few mononuclear cells in the epidermis. No parasite was found in multiple histologic section.

Three Cases of Earlobe Keloids Treated with Carbon Dioxide Laser Vaporization and Pressure Earring after Partial Keloidectomy / 대한피부과학회지

Keloid is proliferative fibrous growths that result from an excessive tissue response to trauma. The earlobe is a common site for the formation of keloid and the frequent cause is ear piercing. Many modalities are available for the treatment of earlobe keloid. Surgical excision has been the most commonly used therapeutic modality but recurrence following excision is common. Intralesional triamcinolon, radiation therapy, compression device, cryosurgery, D-penicillamine or any combination of them were reported to be successful in the treatment of earlobe keloid. We report three cases of earlobe keloid treated with partial surgical keloidectomy of upper part and carbon dioxide laser vaporizing the residual keloid tissue. And then the defect was covered with a primary closure with flap. Pressure earrings were fitted 2 weeks after surgery, and were maintained for 3 months. There was no recurrence of keloid for follow-up period at least 9 months. We suggest that combined modality of CO2 laser vaporization and pressure earring after surgical keloidectomy may offer a better cosmetic and functional improvement in the treatment of primary and recurrent earlobe keloid.

A Case of Primary Inoculation Tuberculosis / 대한피부과학회지

Primary inoculation tuberculosis, also called tuberculosis chancre or tuberculosis primary complex, is the result of direct inoculation of M. tuberculosis in the skin of a host who has not been infected. A 33-year-old laboratory male presents with painless erythematous nodule and central ulcer on the left middle finger for 3 weeks. The skin lesion was developed after he punctured his finger with a needle containing M. tuberculosis. He had no history of tuberculosis. Histopathologic finding showed a wedged shaped abscess mixed with nuclear dust and eosinophils in the epidermis, and inflammatory cell infiltrations and caseation necrosis within the granuloma in the dermis. No bacillus was found in the lesion on AFB stain. We performed polymerase chain reaction with lesional tissue and obtained a positive result. So we diagnosed this case as a primary inoculation tuberculosis, and started antituberculosis medication. After 2 months of treatment, the erythema and ulcer improved. The patient completed a 9 months course of antituberculosis therapy without complication.

Successful Treatment of Two Cases of Keratoacanthomas with Intralesional Methotrexate / 대한피부과학회지

Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing tumor that has the tendency of spontaneous involution but it may persist for some times, continue to enlarge and may become invasive and destructive. Many modalities are available for the treatment of keratoacanthoma. Although excisional surgery is the treatment of choice, this can result in functional and cosmetic defects when large or strategically located lesions are treated. An effective nonsurgical treatment would be desirable in such cases. We report two cases with unusually large or facial keratoacanthoma treated with intralesional methotrexate. One case showed complete resolution over 6 injections and the other after 2 injections. We suggest that intralesional injection of methotrexate is a simple, effective, safe and inexpensive method for the treatment of large keratoacanthoma.

Contact Dermatitis due to Ketoprofen Patch(Ketotop(R)) / 대한피부과학회지

Ketoprofen is an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug derived from propionic acid. It has been widely used as topical preparations, as gel or patch. It has been reported that topical ketoprofen can cause contact dermatitis and photocontact dermatitis. We experienced five cases of contact dermatitis, developed after applying ketoprofen patch(Ketotop(R), Pacific pharmaceutical Co., Korea) for the control of oste omuscular or joint pain. While one patient had generalized urticarial eruption, the rest of patents showed localized erythematous pruritic eczematous skin eruptions. It was verified through intradermal skin test and pin prick test that ketoprofen itself was not the causative drug for the skin eruption. Patch test excluded the possibility of allergic skin reaction to rubber compounds. It should be elucidated which compounds are allergic or toxic to the skin, contained in woven fabrics.

A case of Human Herpesvirus 8 Related Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Patient with Iatrogenic Cushing's Syndrome / 대한피부과학회지

Kaposi's sarcoma(KS) is a multicentric proliferative vascular tumor involving cutaneous and visceral tissues. KS was one of the first recognized manifestations of AIDS. A 71-year-old woman was seen with multiple violaceous nodules and painful erythematous cellulitis-like swelling on both lower legs. Easy bruising and senile purpura was also noted on her forearms. She had been suffered from lower back pain for 7 years, and had been treated with corticosteroids. Clinical picture and hormonal study revealed that she had iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. The histopathologic study from skin lesion showed abnormally proliferated and dilated vessels, vascular slits, spindle shaped cells in the entire dermis. Human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8) was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using the paraffin-embedded skin tissue. She received localized radiotherapy(50 Gray) to both lower legs with favorable response. But five months later, her skin lesions had recurred and progressed into more aggressive pattern mainly on her left lower leg. We report a rare case of human herpesvirus 8 related KS in iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome.