Pyoderma gangrenosum following cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, chronic inflammatory disease that can develop after minor trauma or surgery. Most reports of this condition developing after abdominal surgery have been reported following ostomy formation. A number of systemic diseases have been associated with this disorder, most commonly inflammatory bowel disease, though 40-50% of cases have no associated systemic disease. CASE: A 32-year-old woman developed spiking fever and purulent appearing wound discharge with a rolled erythematous border after cesarean delivery. Her condition worsened despite various regimens of intravenous antibiotics and local treatment. Pyoderma gangrenosum was diagnosed. Treatment with steroids resolved the lesion, and associated systemic diseases were not found. CONCLUSION: Consideration of the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum in cases of apparent wound infections unresponsive to antibiotics should result in early diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Malignant primitive neuroectodermal tumor presenting as a scalp nodule.

We report a case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with a 3-year history of a stable cystic nodule on the scalp. Light microscopy of the excised nodule demonstrated a malignant small round cell undifferentiated neoplasm. Immunohistochemical studies suggested a neural crest origin, while ultrastructural examination revealed characteristics of schwannian differentiation. Both of these special techniques were essential in establishing the diagnosis of a malignant epithelioid schwannoma of superficial tissue (neurotropic melanoma, desmoplastic melanoma). We discuss the differential diagnoses and describe the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of this tumor. This case illustrates the difficulty of diagnosing this rare malignant tumor, which masqueraded as a benign-appearing scalp lesion.

Drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis treated with cyclosporin.

A 35-year-old woman developed toxic epidermal necrolysis secondary to phenytoin. Because the life-threatening eruption was resistant to prednisone and high-dose methylprednisolone therapy, cyclosporine therapy was initiated. Within 24-48 hours, the eruption stabilized and the patient improved.

Controversy: are systemic steroids indicated in the treatment of erythema multiforme?

The treatment of erythema multiforme major with systemic steroids became established during the 1950s. Recently, two retrospective case reviews comparing steroid-treated and nonsteroid-treated groups of patients with erythema multiforme found that these agents may be associated with complications. As a result, many clinicians have become uncertain as to the appropriate therapy of this disease entity. We successfully treated the condition with steroids in two children and one adolescent. The controversy over the potential efficacy of such therapy for erythema multiforme persists, however.

Treatment of alopecia areata with dinitrochlorobenzene.

Persistent refractory alopecia areata in 26 patients was treated topically with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Sixteen patients have had excellent regrowth of hair; three patients could either not be initially sensitized or an adequate allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp did not develop. Two patients discontinued therapy within two months; hair growth did not develop in five patients despite an adequate trial. Augmentation of the T-lymphocyte pool via DNCB sensitization and challenge may become effective therapy for some patients with severe alopecia areata.

Pustular blastomycosis.

A 53-year-old Negro man had North American blastomycosis with acute onset of widespread pustular eruptions. Several tests suggested that the patient might have had a deficiency of delayed hypersensitivity.

Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunosuppressed patient.

A renal transplant recipient was receiving prednisone and azathioprine therapy when he developed fever, cough, and erythema-nodosum-like lesions on the extremities. Disseminated histoplasmosis was diagnosed by skin biopsy. Disseminated histoplasmosis should be considered when a patient under immunosuppressive therapy develops a lesion similar to erythema nodosum or erysipelas with panniculitis.