Porokeratosis simulating Bowen's disease on dermoscopy

Abstract Porokeratosis is a disorder of epidermal keratinization characterized by the presence of annular hyperkeratotic plaques. Its etiopathogenesis is not yet fully understood, but a relationship with immunosuppression has been reported. Dermoscopic examination revealed a classic yellowish-white ring-like structure that resembled “volcanic crater contour” – the so-called cornoid lamella. We describe a case of porokeratosis in a female patient with chronic lymphedema, which was similar to Bowen’s disease due to the many glomerular vessels seen on clinical examination and dermoscopy.

Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis

Abstract We report a case of nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis of Hoffman-Zurhelle (NCLS), with multiple lesions, in a ten-year-old child. The NLCS is considered rare. The classical clinical presentation is characterized by multiple skin-colored or yellowish papules and nodules, which can have a linear distribution. Histologically, it is characterized by the presence of mature ectopic adipocytes in the dermis. The main therapeutic option is surgical excision. The classical Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis is reported in this case.

Dermatofibroma simulating seborrheic keratosis dermoscopically

Abstract: Dermatofibroma is a frequent benign tumor of easy clinical diagnosis in most cases, but that can mimic other dermatoses. Dermoscopy may help to define the diagnosis and its classical pattern is a central white area, similar to a scar, surrounded by a discrete pigment network. However, dermoscopic findings are not always typical. We describe here a case of dermatofibroma exhibiting ridges, furrows and pseudocomedos, a pattern which is typical of seborrheic keratosis, in dermoscopy.

Post-kala-azar dermal Leishmaniasis in two different clinical contexts

In Brazil, visceral Leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania chagasi. The development of cutaneous lesions in visceral leishmaniasis patients has been described in two different clinical contexts. Patients with compromised immunity can develop skin lesions as a direct consequence of a current visceral disease. Equally, patients with a history of kala-azar and progressive, immune improvement occasionally develop skin lesions as a consequence of immune reconstitution infl ammatory syndrome. These cases manifest in similar fashion to the classic form of post-kala-azar dermal Leishmaniasis. We describe different cases that exemplify these two clinical presentations.

Linear lichen planus in children - case report / Liquen plano linear na infancia - relato de caso

Lichen planus is an uncommon disease in children, and only 2 to 3% of affected patients are under twenty years of age. This dermatosis may appear in several clinical forms, which vary according to the morphology and distribution of lesions. In less than 0.2% of all lichen planus cases, the lesions are distributed along the lines of Blaschko, and is a variant called linear lichen planus. This is a case report of a patient aged two years and eight months, who presented keratotic violaceous papules, affecting the abdomen, buttocks and right thigh, distributed along the lines of Blaschko. Histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of linear lichen planus.

O líquen plano é uma enfermidade pouco frequente na infância, apenas 2 a 3% dos pacientes acometidos se encontram abaixo dos vinte anos de idade. Essa dermatose pode se apresentar sob várias formas clínicas, as quais variam de acordo com a morfologia e distribuição das lesões. Em menos de 0,2% dos casos de líquen plano, as lesões se distribuem ao longo das linhas de Blaschko, variante denominada de líquen plano linear. Relata-se o caso de uma paciente de dois anos e oito meses de idade apresentando pápulas violáceas de superfície ceratósica acomentendo a região abdominal, região glútea e coxa direita, distribuídas ao longo das linhas de Blaschko, cujo exame histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico de líquen plano linear.

Pigmented eccrine poroma: report of an atypical case with the use of dermoscopy / Poroma ecrino pigmentado: relato de caso atipico com descricao da dermoscopia

Poromas are uncommon benign neoplasms originating from the terminal ductal portion of the sweat glands, mainly characterized by skin-colored or pink pa pules or nodules, usually on the extremities. Due to their rarity, the pigmented form clinical hypothesis is hardly ever suggested and psychopathology is fundamental. We report a case of pigmented eccrine poroma in the right palmer area, a location considered atypical. We stress the importance of dermoscopy as a method for diagnosis of poromas, especially in the differential diagnosis with other pigmented nodular-popular lesions.

Os poromas são neoplasias benignas incomuns oriundas das porções ductais terminais das glândulas sudoríparas. Caracterizam-se principalmente por pápula ou nódulo cor da pele ou róseo, em geral nas extremidades. Devido à raridade, a hipótese clínica da forma pigmentada dificilmente é aventada, sendo fundamental a histopatologia. Relata-se caso de poroma écrino pigmentado na região palmar direita, localização considerada atípica. Ressalta-se a importância da dermoscopia como método auxiliar no diagnóstico do poroma e, principalmente, no diagnóstico diferencial com outras lesões pápulo-nodulares pigmentadas.

Tratamento dos grânulos de Fordyce com laser de CO2 - Relato de dois casos / Treatment of Fordyce granules with a CO2 laser: report of two cases

Os grânulos de Fordyce são referidos como glândulas sebáceas ectópicas benignas caracterizadas por múltiplas pápulas amareladas, principalmente em lábio superior e observadas na maioria dos casos em homens adultos. Descrevem-se dois casos de pacientes com grânulos de Fordyce que foram submetidos ao tratamento com laser de CO2 obtendo bom resultado cosmético.

Fordyce granules are referred to as benign ectopic sebaceous glands characterized by multiple yellow papules, occurring mainly in the lower lip. It is mainly observed in adult men. The present study describes two cases of patients with Fordyce granules who were treated using a CO2 laser and obtained good cosmetic results.

Tratamento da foliculite decalvante com laser Nd: YAG / Treatment of folliculitis decalvans with Nd: YAG laser

O tratamento da foliculite decalvante representa grande desafio, com inúmeras recidivas e manutenção da atividade da doença por longo período. A remoção de pelo com laser vem sendo utilizada no manejo de desordens foliculares cicatriciais. Este relato tem por objetivoilustrar o caso de paciente portador de foliculite decalvante em membro inferior que realizou cinco sessões terapêuticas com laser neodímio:YAG (Nd:YAG) e assim obteve remissão completa das lesões inflamatórias.

Treatment of folliculitis decalvans is a major challenge, with a great number of recurrences and required maintenance of disease activity over a long period. Laser-based hair removal has been used in the management of scarring follicular disorders. The present case report aims to illustrate the case of a patient bearing folliculitis decalvans in the lower limb who underwent five therapeutic sessions of neodymium:YAG laser (Nd:YAG), achieving complete remission of the inflammatory lesions with the treatment.

Uso da limeciclina associada com o peróxido de benzoíla no tratamento da hipomelanose macular progressiva: um estudo prospectivo / The use of lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of progressive macular hypomelanosis: a prospective study

A hipomelanose macular progressiva é uma dermatose de etiopatogenia pouco conhecida. A participação do Propionibacterium acnes e a resposta ao tratamento com medicamentos com atividade para essa bactéria têm sido sugeridas. Relata-se uma série de casos de 13 pacientes com hipomelanose macular progressiva tratados com limeciclina e peróxido de benzoíla durante três meses, que apresentaram excelente resposta ao tratamento e nele se mantêm durante o período de seguimento do estudo.

Progressive macular hypomelanosis is a dermatosis of uncertain etiology. The participation of Propionibacterium acnes has been suggested in view of the response achieved following therapy with drugs that are active against this bacterium. This report describes a series of thirteen patients with progressive macular hypomelanosis who were treated with an association of lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide over a three-month period. Response to treatment was excellent and the positive results were maintained during the entire follow up period.

A quantitative analysis of Propionibacterium acnes in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients with progressive macular hypomelanosis by real-time polymerase chain reaction

Little is known about the etiology of progressive macular hypomelanosis, although it has been suggested that Propionibacterium acnes plays an important role. While microbiological culture is commonly employed to identify Propionibacterium acnes, new identification methods have been under investigation, amongst them polymerase chain reaction. To determine the cut-off point for the number of genome copies of Propionibacterium acnes in the lesional skin of patients with progressive macular hypomelanosis as a positive marker, employing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and anaerobic culture, considered gold standard. An observational study with a comparison group, included 35 patients with dermatosis, attended at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Pernambuco, Brazil, between March and May 2008. Lesional skin was compared to non-lesional skin through positive testing with real-time polymerase chain reaction and culture. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 12.0, was employed for the association analysis with the McNemar test, and the cut-off point with the ROC curve for maximum values. Propionibacterium acnes was most frequently encountered in lesional areas (p<0,025). The cut-off point of Propionibacterium acnes in lesional skin was 1,333 genome copies, with a sensitivity of 87,9 percent and a specificity of 100,0 percent. Since Propionibacterium acnes is a saprophyte, identifying the cut-off point may assist in determining its positivity in lesional skin in patients suffering with this dermatosis.

Estudo comparativo da prevalência de Staphylococcus aureus importado para as unidades de terapia intensiva de hospital universitário, Pernambuco, Brasil / Comparative study on the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus imported to intensive care units of a university hospital, Pernambuco, Brazil

O Staphylococcus aureus é um dos principais patógenos que coloniza indivíduos saudáveis na comunidade e responde por infecções em pacientes hospitalizados. Um estudo transversal foi realizado para determinar a prevalência de S. aureus meticilina-resistente e sensível entre 231 pacientes, internados entre janeiro e abril de 2003, nas unidades de terapia intensiva (UTIs) do Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz, assim como os possíveis fatores associados à colonização. Foram coletadas secreções de narinas, axilas, região perineal e dermatoses com soluções de continuidade, de todos os pacientes, nas primeiras 48 horas de internamento nas UTIs. O material foi semeado em meios de cultura adequados. A prevalência de S. aureus igualou-se a 37,7 por cento (87/231), sendo 13 por cento (30/231) meticilina-resistente e 24,8 por cento (57/231) meticilina-sensível. Idade, sexo, uso de antibioticoterapia, corticoterapia, motivo e local do internamento não se associaram à presença do S. aureus ou do meticilina-resistente. Houve associação significante entre procedência hospitalar e colonização por S. aureus, independente da cepa, e entre internamento anterior e presença do S. aureus meticilina-resistente. As narinas foram o sítio de colonização mais significante, por S. aureus meticilina-resistente (47/57=82,4 por cento) e sensível (23/30=76,7 por cento). Foi alta a prevalência do S. aureus (meticilina resistente ou sensível), assim como do meticilina-resistente entre os pacientes das UTIs deste hospital. Estudos futuros poderão comprovar se os resultados aqui descritos e medidas de rastreamento para S. aureus poderiam ser adotadas, de forma prospectiva, para se avaliar o risco, assim como a magnitude do efeito, no controle de infecções hospitalares provocadas por estes patógenos.

Staphylococcus aureus is the most important pathogen that colonizes healthy individuals in the community and is responsible for infections in hospitalized patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant and sensitive S. aureus, in 231 patients, hospitalized from January to April 2003, in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz, as well as possible factors associated with colonization. Secretions, from the anterior nostrils, armpits, perineum and dermatosis with continuity solutions, were collected from all patients, within the first 48 h of admission at the ICU. These samples were spread on appropriate media. The prevalence of S. aureus was 37.7 percent (87/231), of which 13 percent (30/231) methicillin-resistant and 24.8 percent (57/231) methicillin-sensitive. Age, gender, antibiotic therapy, corticoid therapy and cause and place of hospitalization were not associated to colonization by S. aureus or methicillin-resistance. There was a significant association between hospital of origin and S. aureus colonization, regardless of strain, as well as between previous hospitalization and the presence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Regardless of strain, nostrils were the most significant colonization site for methicillin-resistant (47/57=82.4 percent) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (23/30=76.7 percent). There was a high prevalence of S aureus, (methicillin resistant or sensitive), as well as of methicillin resistance among ICU patients in this hospital. Future studies may prove the results reported here and screening routines for S. aureus should be adopted, prospectively, to evaluate risk, as well as the magnitude of the effect, on the control of hospital infections caused by these pathogens.