A Case of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum-like Papillary Dermal Elastolysis on the Neck of a Young Woman / 대한피부과학회지

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis (PXE-like PDE) is a rare acquired elastolytic disorder that clinically resembles pseudoxanthoma elasticum. The pathogenesis of this disease is uncertain, but it seems to be related to intrinsic aging, abnormal elastogenesis, a genetic predisposition and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It generally develops on the sides of the neck and supraclavicular regions in elderly persons. Histologically, the characteristic features are the loss of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis and no solar elastosis. We report here on a case of PXE-like PDE in a 26-year-old female whose skin lesion developed 9 years previously. Despite the preferential occurrence at an old age, our patient was young.

Dacryoscintigraphy: The Assessment of Epiphora in Children

The value of dacryoscintigraphy in the assessment of lacrimal drainage system was examined in 20 children below 34 months of age, 28 symptomatic eyes and 12 asymptomatic eyes. Of 28 symptomatic eyes, 20(71%) had abnormalities of tear drainge on dacryoscintigraphy. Of 12 asymptomatic eyes, 10 had normal tear drainage systems on dacryoscintigraphy. Because of the good natural physiological character and simplicity of this procedure and lower risk of radiation hazard. dacryoscintigraphy is a useful technique in the assessment of lacrimal drainage systems in children with symptom of epiphora.

Prismatic Effect and Visual Acuity Degradation

Prisms have been used as tools with which to treat and diagnose many diseases in strabismology. But, because of prismatic distortion and dispersion, the visual acuities are declined. The purpose of this study is to show the relationship between prismatic effect and visual acuity degradation. Visual acuities were measured through a series of prisms of CR-39 to quantify the blur induced by prism. The mean visual acuities of myopias and amblyopias(with or without correction), and emmetropias were reduced as prism diopters were increased. The declines were linear. There was no significant difference among the declines of visual acuities of each group. Whenever to prescribe prisms and to test with prisms, we should remind that prisms could reduce visual acuities.