Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with thermotherapy in Brazil: an efficacy and safety study

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pentavalent antimonials remain as the standard drugs in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniosis. The high cost, difficult administration, long treatment time, toxicity and increasing morbidity are factors that limit the use of these drugs. OBJECTIVES: To describe the response to radiofrequency thermotherapy in the treatment of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, and to evaluate its safety and tolerability. METHODS: We conducted a non-comparative open trial with a total of 15 patients confirmed to have cutaneous leishmaniasis on parasitological examination. A single radiofrequency thermotherapy session at 50ºC for 30 seconds was applied to the lesion and its edges. In patients with more than one lesion, only the largest one was treated initially. If after 30 days there was no evidence of healing, the smaller lesion was also treated with thermotherapy. Clinical cure was defined as visible healing for three months after treatment. The patients were followed-up for six months and there was no follow-up loss. RESULTS: Of all 23 lesions, only two evolved to complete healing without the need of treatment. Of 21 lesions, 18 (85.7%) achieved full healing. The main observed side effects were itching, burning sensation, pain and blisters. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Sample with a small number of patients and short follow-up. CONCLUSION: Thermotherapy can be considered a therapeutic alternative in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis, especially in cases of single cutaneous lesions and with formal contraindications to conventional treatment with pentavalent antimonials.

Targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma - Case report

Targetoid Hemosiderotic Hemangioma, also known as Hobnail Hemangioma, is a lesion of vascular origin, probably lymphatic. The most common clinical feature is a solitary violaceous papule surrounded by a pale, thin area and a peripheral ecchymotic ring, simulating a target. Histopathologically, there is a biphasic pattern, with dilated vessels in the superficial dermis and pseudoangiosarcomatous pattern in the deep dermis, and endothelial cells with hobnail morphology. A simple excision is curative. We report a rare case of Targetoid Hemosiderotic Hemangioma.

Corymbiform nodular amyloidosis / Amiloidose nodular com lesão corimbiforme

Amyloidosis is part of a group of deposition diseases. Nodular amyloidosis is a rare form of primary cutaneous amyloidosis. It affects men and women, usually over the age of 60 years. Presenting manifestation of the disease are yellowish-erythematous or brownish nodules or plaques in single or multiple infiltrates. Systemic evaluation should be performed to rule out involvement of other organs. Follow-up of the patient is important because the condition may progress to systemic amyloidosis. We report a case of nodular amyloidosis in which the lesion had a corymbiform aspect without systemic involvement and no recurrence after two years of follow-up.

As amiloidoses constituem um grupo de doenças de depósito. A amiloidose nodular é uma forma rara de amiloidose cutânea primária. Acomete homens e mulheres, geralmente acima de 60 anos. Apresenta-se com nódulos ou placas eritemato-amareladas ou acastanhadas infiltradas isoladas ou múltiplas. A avaliação sistêmica deve ser feita para descartar comprometimento de outros órgãos. É importante o seguimento devido a possibilidade de evolução para amiloidose sistêmica. Relatamos um caso de amiloidose nodular com lesão de aspecto corimbiforme sem sistematização e sem recidiva após dois anos de seguimento.

Case for diagnosis / Caso para diagnóstico

Porokeratosis is a primary keratinizing disorder of unknown etiology. This disorder is characterized by the presence of centrifugally enlarging hyperkeratotic plaques, associated with the histopathological hallmark of cornoid lamellae. Genital porokeratosis is extremely rare. No more than thirty cases have been reported in the literature, including only one case of linear porokeratosis confined to the genital area. This case report describes a patient with genital linear porokeratosis, who was successfully treated with cryotherapy. Over two years of follow-up, the lesion improved and there was no evidence of recurrence or signs of malignant transformation. Nevertheless, there is a need for long-term follow-up data on recurrence and malignant transformation.

A poroceratose é uma desordem primária de queratinização, de etiologia desconhecida. Apresenta-se com lesões eritemato-acastanhadas com crista periférica e centro normal ou atrófico, e está associada ao achado anatomopatológico de lamela cornoide. O envolvimento genital nessa doença é extremamente raro. Não mais que trinta casos têm sido descritos na literatura, sendo um desses casos de poroceratose linear localizado na área genital. Descrevemos um caso de poroceratose linear genital tratado com crioterapia. Durante dois anos de seguimento, houve melhora do aspecto das lesões, sem recorrência ou sinais de transformação maligna. Entretanto, um acompanhamento a longo prazo se faz necessário.