Successful therapeutic approach in a patient with elephantiasic pretibial myxedema

Abstract Localized pretibial myxedema is a dermopathy whose treatment is a challenge in dermatology, occurring in 0.5-4% of patients with Graves' disease. This autoimmune thyroid condition stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans that are deposited particularly in the pretibial region. Clinically, it presents as a localized, circumscribed, and non-depressible infiltrate in plaques. Several treatment modalities have been proposed, and their results vary, with worse response observed in severe cases. This report presents the case of a patient with elephantiasic pretibial myxedema who was subjected to intralesional corticosteroid applications, resulting in an excellent and encouraging therapeutic response that was maintained.

Sporotrichosis in an unusual location - Case report

Sporotrichosis is the most common subcutaneous mycosis. It is caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii, and the infection is usually acquired by traumatic inoculation. We describe a case of sporotrichosis in an uncommon location with an unusual mode of transmission. A 49-year-old female patient who lived in an urban area of Rio de Janeiro presented with involvement of the left ear. No history of contact with soil, plants or animals was elicited. The suspected source of infection was a pair of handmade wooden earrings. The delay in the diagnosis and treatment resulted in higher morbidity, unsightly scarring and loss of ear lobe.

Case for diagnosis / Caso para diagnostico

The chondroid syringoma is a rare benign tumor, also called mixed cutaneous tumor by the presence of epithelial and mesenchymal components, consisting of sweat elements in cartilaginous, collagenous, myxoid or osseous stroma, among others. It mainly affects middle-aged men and is characterized by asymptomatic and slowgrowing, dermal or subcutaneous nodules. The most common locations are the head and neck. It is rare on the extremities. There are reports of malignant variants predominantly in women, located on the extremities. We report a case of a female patient with a lesion on the toe, with excellent outcome after surgical treatment.

O siringoma condroide é um tumor benigno, raro, também chamado de tumor misto cutâneo pela presença de componentes epiteliais e mesenquimais, que consistem em elementos sudoríparos em estroma cartilaginoso, colagênico, mixoide ou ósseo, entre outros. Acomete, principalmente, homens de meia-idade e caracteriza-se por nódulos subcutâneos ou dérmicos, assintomáticos e com crescimento lento. As localizações preferenciais são a cabeça e o pescoço, sendo raro nas extremidades. Existem relatos de variantes malignas, com predomínio em mulheres, localizadas nas extremidades. Relatamos um caso em paciente do sexo feminino, com lesão em extremidade e excelente resultado após o tratamento cirúrgico.

Clinical and surgical therapeutic approach in Erithema Elevatum Diutinum - case report / Abordagem terapeutica clinico-cirurgica no Eritema Elevatum Diutinum - relato de caso

Erythema elevatum diutinum is a rare chronic cutaneous vasculitis which usually affects adults. It is characterized by symmetrical and persistent papules, plaques, and nodules. These lesions are usually located on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. We report a case of erythema elevatum diutinum in which the association of dapsone and surgical excision promoted complete remission of skin lesions, providing a new approach to the treatments described in the literature.

O eritema elevatum diutinum é uma vasculite cutânea rara, crônica, que costuma afetar adultos, manifestando-se com pápulas, placas e nódulos, simétricos e persistentes, nas regiões extensoras das extremidades. Relata-se um caso de eritema elevatum diutinum, onde a associação terapêutica da dapsona e excisão cirúrgica promoveu a remissão completa das lesões cutâneas, oferecendo uma nova abordagem aos tratamentos descritos na literatura.

Síndrome de Sweet: estudo de 73 casos, com ênfase nos achados histopatológicos / Sweet's syndrome: study of 73 cases, emphasizing histopathological findings

FUNDAMENTOS: A síndrome de Sweet corresponde a um conjunto de alterações cutâneas, sistêmicas e histopatológicas como resposta a diversos estímulos, semelhantes ao eritema nodoso, ao eritema multiforme e à vasculite leucocitoclásica. São descritas condições associadas como infecção, gravidez, uso de drogas e malignidades. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as alterações clínicas e histopatológicas da síndrome, relacionando-a a outras condições. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo de 73 casos com avaliação microscópica de lesões cutâneas, dados clínicos e laboratoriais. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio de mulheres (83,0 por cento), brancas (49,2 por cento), entre a quarta e a sexta décadas de vida (73,8 por cento). Placas eritematosas (76,9 por cento), pápulas (43,0 por cento), pseudovesiculação (PV) (38,4 por cento) e lesões em alvo (18,5 por cento) foram as principais alterações. Entre as condições associadas, infecções de vias aéreas (15,4 por cento) e uso de drogas (10,8 por cento) foram as mais frequentes. Outras associações, representadas por um caso cada, foram: linfoma de Hodgkin, gravidez, colite ulcerativa, policitemia vera e lúpus eritematoso em paciente com Aids. Neutrófilos com leucocitoclasia (98,6 por cento), degeneração do colágeno (87,7 por cento), edema (74,0 por cento) e PV (38,4 por cento) foram os principais achados microscópicos. Eosinófilos estiveram presentes (41,1 por cento) de raros a abundantes e, em geral, não relacionados ao uso de drogas. O infiltrado inflamatório atingiu a derme profunda em 47,9 por cento das vezes e encontrou-se paniculite em 80,0 por cento dos casos nos quais a hipoderme estava representada (10 casos). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados, de modo geral, coincidem com os da literatura, destacando-se: frequente participação de eosinófilos sem correlação com a ingestão de medicamentos, paniculite e rara associação com linfoma de Hodgkin, sendo este o quinto relato de tal ocorrência, segundo o conhecimento dos autores.

BACKGROUND: Sweet's syndrome refers to a set of cutaneous, systemic and histopathological alterations that occur in response to different stimuli, in a similar way to that occurring in erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme and leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The syndrome has been described in association with conditions such as infections, pregnancy, the use of certain medications and malignancy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and histopathological alterations occurring in this syndrome and to assess the association between these alterations and other conditions. METHODS: A retrospective study of 73 cases was conducted, evaluating data on the microscopic examination of skin lesions, as well as clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female (83.0 percent), white (49.2 percent) and between 30 and 60 years of age (73.8 percent). The principal alterations found were: erythymatous plaques (76.9 percent), papules (43.0 percent), pseudo-vesiculation (PV) (38.4 percent) and target lesions (18.5 percent). With respect to the associated conditions, upper respiratory tract infections (15.4 percent) and the use of medication (10.8 percent) were the most common. Other associations, albeit represented by only one case each, were: Hodgkin's lymphoma, pregnancy, ulcerative colitis, polycythemia vera and lupus erythematosus in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The principal microscopic findings were: neutrophils with leukocytoclasia (98.6 percent), collagen degeneration (87.7 percent), edema (74.0 percent) and PV (38.4 percent). The presence of eosinophils (41.1 percent) ranged from rare to abundant and was usually unrelated to the use of medication. Inflammatory infiltrate reached the deep epidermal layer in 47.9 percent of cases and panniculitis was found in 80.0 percent of cases in which the hypodermis was affected (10 cases). CONCLUSIONS: In general, these findings are in agreement with results published in the literature, emphasizing the frequent finding of eosinophils unrelated to drug use, panniculitis and the rare association with Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is the fifth report of an association between Sweet's syndrome and Hodgkin's disease.