Depigmentation Therapy with Monobenzyl Ether of Hydroquinone in a Patient with Vitiligo Universalis / 대한피부과학회지

A 42-year-old Korean female patient with vitiligo universalis had depigmentation therapy with 20 monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone(MBEH). Noticeable lightening was observed 1 month after depigmentation therapy, three months later, complete depigmentation was achieved. As depigmentation induced by MBEH is generally irreversible, MBEH must be reserved for induction of complete depigmentation in severe cases of vitiligo in which the patients themselves do not want repigmentation and who can aecept the consequences of permanent non-tanning skin.

A Case of Giant Sebaceous Gland Hyperplasia / 대한피부과학회지

Sebaceous hyperplasia is not a rare disorder and commonly develops on the face over the age of forty. The typical clinical manifestations are 2 ~ 3mm sized, single or multiple, soft protuberant yellowish nodules with central umbilication and histology shows a group of mature sebaceous lobules and central sebaceous ducts. We report an exceptionally "giant" size of sebaceous gland hyperplasia which lead us to such clinical impressions as an acrochordon, intradermal nevus, and verruca vulgaris. Histologically, the lesion showed a greatly enlarged sebaceous gland composed of numerous lobules grouped around a wide sebaceous duct. Besides the extraordinarily large size of the nodule, the benign proliferating pattern led us to a diagnosis of giant sebaceous hyperplasia.

Basal Cell Carcinoma Arising in A Post-traumatic Scar / 대한피부과학회지

A basal cell carcinoma developed in the forehead of a 57-year-old man at the scar site from a blunt trauma that happened 10 months previously. The patient had never been noted to have premalignant or other malignant skin lesions. The significance of injury in the etiology of basal cell carcinoma is discussed.

One Case of Benign Lichenoid Keratosis / 대한피부과학회지

We present a case of BLK developed in a 43-year-old Caucasian female. She had an asymptomatic, 4mm-sized, scaly erythematous papule on her left forearm. On histologic examination, this case showed a focal parakeratosis, hyperkeratosis, focal hypergranulosis and basal vacuolar degeneration in the epidermis, as well as band-like lymphohistiocytic infiltration with melanophages and solar elastosis in the dermis. The skin lesion was totally excised and no recurrence was noted.

Prurigo Pigmentosa:A Report of 5 Cases with a Review of the Korean Literature

Prurigo pigmentosa(PP) is a rare dermatosis with an unknown cause characterized by intensely pruritic papules that resolve with reticulate pigmentation. It is a disease entitity commonly reported in Japan but seemingly rare in other parts of the world. We report 5 cases that clinically and histopathologically fulfilled the characterisitics of PP and were treated with dapsone resulting in significant clinical improvement.

Cyclosporine in the treatment of psoriasis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is belived to be a disorder of keratinocyte hyperproliferation mediated by T helper cells. Cyclosproine is one of the immunosuppressants and there have been several studies showing the benefcial effects of cyclosporine on psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, tolerability, and adverse effects of cyclosporine, a randomized open uncontrolled multicenter study was conducted in 15 university hospitals in Korea. METHOD: There were 68 total trial cases and among them 16 patients dropped out from the study. The reported reasons for stopping the use of the medication under study prematurely were lack of cooperation(seven cases), adverse effects(six cases), the ineffectiveness of the medication(two cases), and another(one case). The drug was administered for 18 weeks to 52 patients. The initial dosage of the drug was 2.5mg/kg/day which was maintained or increased to 4mg/kg/day or 5mg/kg/day according to the PASI score reduction rate at the 6th and 12th week. The PASI score was measured and Iaboratory tests and observation of adverse events were done. RESULTS: At the end of therapy PASI score reduction rate of more than 66% occured in 40 patients (76.9%). The PASI score was significantly reduced from 20.0 to 5.4 after treatment for 18 weeks. The social disability score was significantly decreased. Pruritus and nail involvement were also significantly decreased. The change of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were statistically not significant. The 30% increase of serum creatinine level compared to the baseline was observed in six patients(11.5%) at the 6th week, three patients(5.8%) at the 12th week, five patients(9.6%) at the 18th week, but no patients showed an increase above the normal range.The increase of serum total bilirubin and SGOT was observed in six patients(11.5%) and one patient(1.9%0, respectively. The clinical adverse events reported during the study were gastrointestinal trouble(seven cases, 13.5%), hypertrichosis(two cases, 3.8%), generalized weakness(two cases, 3.8%0, paresthesia(one case, 1.9%), hypertension(one case, 1.9%), disturbance of erection(one case, 1.9%). The overall assessment of efficacy and tolerability by investigator and patients were mostly good or very good. CONCLUSION: Generally cyclosporine was well accepted and tolerated and low dose cyclosporine therapy-2.5mg/kg/day to 5mg/kg/day-is an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of psoriasis.

Multiple basal cell carcinoma associated with keratoacanthoma

We report a case of multiple basal cell carcinoma associated with keratoacanthoma. A 65-year-old Korean female had suffered from multiple, variable-sized papules and nodules on the face for 20 years previous to treatment. She had no history of arsenic intake, irradiation, herb medication, or hereditable or preexisting dermatoses. Histopathologically, the tumors revealed typical findings of solid and adenoid types of basal cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma.