Sarcoidosis detected due to tattoo swellings in an Indian female.

A female patient presented with asymptomatic swellings in old blue-black tattoo marks of her forearms. On careful skin examination, few raised erythematous, circular plaques were also found on the non-tattooed skin on her back, about which she was unaware. The diagnosis of cutaneous and systemic sarcoidosis was confi rmed after classical histopathological fi ndings from skin lesions from her non tattooed back and from papulonodular tattooed lesions, ruling out other causes of granulomas and supported by a negative Mantoux test, raised serum angiotensin converting enzyme level, high resolution computed tomography thorax, etc. She responded well to oral steroid therapy. The importance of a careful skin examination, easy access provided by skin lesions in suspected cases of cutaneous/systemic sarcoidosis, the value of sudden tattoo changes in the diagnosis here and the possible contribution of tattoos toward the causation of cutaneous and/or systemic sarcoidosis are highlighted.

Transepidermal elimination of Mycobacterium leprae in histoid leprosy: A case report suggesting possible participation of skin in leprosy transmission.

An Indian patient of histoid leprosy presenting de novo, having numerous solid staining bacilli inside the intact epidermis and eliminating bacilli from the intact and the eroded epidermis, is reported. The diagnosis, suggested by the clinical features, was confirmed histopathologically. This unusual report indicates possible participation of skin in leprosy transmission.

Use of tissue glue for punch grafting in vitiligo--a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Minipunch grafting has been successfully used for the treatment of stable vitiligo since several years. Post-operative immobilization at certain sites such as lips, areola & infralabial folds and joints is not easy to achieve. Putting stay sutures on the lips and areolae is difficult. Grafting over the joints may require hospitalization to ensure proper immobilization, and may discourage some patients. AIM: To study the efficacy of a tissue glue for immobilization of donor grafts at the above sites during minipunch grafting. METHODS: Ten cases with stable vitiligo over the lips, areolae, below the lower lip, and over different joints had tissue glue applied to the edges between the donor grafts and the recipient wells, after the grafting. RESULTS: The grafts adhered firmly within a minute and there was no need for a cumbersome dressing. Over the lips, the patients could resume talking and drinking fluids immediately. CONCLUSION: The glue was very helpful for immobilizing the grafts at these difficult sites.