Delayed Reconstruction for the Non-Amputative Treatment of Subungual Melanoma

BACKGROUND: In cases of early stage subungual melanoma (SUM), conservative treatment with non-amputative wide excision of the nail unit and subsequent skin graft is preferred over amputation to preserve the involved digit. OBJECTIVE: We report a series of patients with SUM treated with conservative surgery and suggest an effective supplementary treatment process. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients (2 males, 8 females) who were diagnosed with in situ or minimally invasive SUM on the first biopsy and underwent non-amputative wide excision of the nail unit. All patients underwent secondary intention healing during the histopathological re-evaluation of the entire excised lesion, and additional treatment was administered according to the final report. RESULTS: In two of 10 patients, amputation was performed because of the detection of deep invasion (Breslow thickness: 4.0, 2.3 mm) from the final pathologic results, which differed from the initial biopsy. In six patients who received delayed skin graft, the mean total time required for complete healing after secondary intention healing and the skin graft was 66.83+/-15.09 days. As a result of this delayed skin graft, the final scarring was similar to the original shape of the nail unit, scored between 5 and 10 on a visual analogue scale. Most patients were satisfied with this conservative surgery except one patient, who had volar portion involvement and received an interpolated flap instead of a skin graft. CONCLUSION: Our treatment process can reduce the risk of incomplete resection and improve cosmetic outcomes in patients with SUM.

Etiology and Clinical Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Virus Infection in Hospitalized Adults

BACKGROUND: Etiologies and clinical profiles of acute respiratory viral infections need to be clarified to improve preventive and therapeutic strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study at a single, university-affiliated center was performed to evaluate the respiratory viral infection etiologies in children compared to that in adults and to document the clinical features of common viral infections for adults from July 2009 to April 2012. RESULTS: The common viruses detected from children (2,800 total patients) were human rhinovirus (hRV) (31.8%), adenovirus (AdV) (19.2%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A (17.4%), RSV B (11.7%), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (9.8%). In comparison, influenza virus A (IFA) had the highest isolation rate (28.5%), followed by hRV (15.5%), influenza virus B (IFB) (15.0%), and hMPV (14.0%), in adults (763 total patients). Multiple viruses were detected in single specimens from 22.4% of children and 2.0% of adults. IFA/IFB, RSV A/B, and hMPV exhibited strong seasonal detection and similar circulating patterns in children and adults. Adult patients showed different clinical manifestations according to causative viruses; nasal congestion and rhinorrhea were more common in hRV and human coronavirus (hCoV) infection. Patients with RSV B, hRV, or AdV tended to be younger, and those infected with RSV A and hMPV were likely to be older. Those with RSV A infection tended to stay longer in hospital, enter the intensive care unit more frequently, and have a fatal outcome more often. The bacterial co-detection rate was 26.5%, and those cases were more likely to have lower respiratory tract involvement (P = 0.001), longer hospital stay (P = 0.001), and higher mortality (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The etiologic virus of an acute respiratory infection can be cautiously inferred based on a patient's age and clinical features and concurrent epidemic data. Large-scale prospective surveillance studies are required to provide more accurate information about respiratory viral infection etiology, which could favorably influence clinical outcomes.

Lupus Miliaris Disseminatus Faciei Associated with Milium / 대한피부과학회지

Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei (LMDF) is a chronic inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the face. A 22-year-old man presented with facial skin lesions. Physical examination revealed scattered pin-head sized erythematous to yellowish papules. Skin biopsy from the erythematous papule showed keratinous material in the layers of the thin epithelium and caseous necrosis with adjacent epitheloid granuloma and giant cells. After mechanical extractions of milium-like inflamed papules, skin lesions improved leaving an atrophic scar. LMDF was initially thought to be associated with tuberculosis infection but today it is considered a variant of rosacea. However, there have been reports of LMDF in association with epidermal cysts or milium, suggesting an abnormal immune response to the pilosebaceous unit may play a role. Damage to the pilosebaceous unit that is further complicated by milium rupture may induce inflammation resulting in LMDF. We suggest that milium or epidermal cysts may also attribute to the pathogenesis of LMDF although further studies are needed.

Pulmonary Toxocariasis Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.