Evaluation of new tumors in the setting of stage I/IIA mycosis fungoides.

Although mycosis fungoides is usually a slowly progressive indolent lymphoma, new cutaneous tumors might signal an aggressive phase of the disease. In order to provide appropriate therapeutic management when such tumors arise, it is important to make a correct diagnosis, which requires a bridge between clinical and histopathologic evaluations of the tumors. In this article, we describe 4 patients with preexisting diagnoses of mycosis fungoides, each of whom developed a distinct, new skin tumor. These tumors represented the following: mycosis fungoides without transformation, large-cell transformation of mycosis fungoides, lymphomatoid papulosis-associated CD30(+) lymphoproliferative disorder arising in a patient with mycosis fungoides, and a primary cutaneous CD30(+) lymphoproliferative disorder arising in a patient with mycosis fungoides. Each new and histologically distinct tumor was identified and treated according to a diagnosis concluded by careful clinicopathologic correlation, allowing for the selection of appropriate treatment in each case.

Disseminated sporotrichosis mimicking sarcoidosis.

A 40-year-old Caucasian man presented to the dermatology clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, in February 2003, for the evaluation of three nonhealing ulcers. The patient's past medical history was significant for hypothyroidism and pulmonary sarcoidosis, the diagnosis of which was made in June 2000. In March 2000, the patient had complained of cough and shortness of breath. A purified protein derivative (PPD) (Mantoux text) was negative. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest revealed diffuse hilar and mediastinal adenopathy and bilateral interstitial and alveolar infiltrates. Although consistent with sarcoidosis, these findings were insufficient to exclude other etiologies, including disseminated fungal infection. Cultures and stains of subsequent bronchoscopy specimens failed to reveal any organisms, and histopathologic evaluation of the specimens was nondiagnostic. Based on the imaging studies and the negative cultures, a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made, and the patient was started on therapy with prednisone. Before coming to our clinic, the patient had been on several courses of prednisone. In May 2002, the patient had presented to a private dermatologist with a 1-year history of a nonhealing 2.4 cm x 2.0 cm ulcer on the left medial forearm. Two biopsies were reported as nondiagnostic. The patient's presentation was interpreted as most consistent with Mycobacterium marinum infection, and so he was empirically treated with minocycline. This treatment was continued for almost 3 months without improvement in the ulcer. A few months after the minocycline had been discontinued, the patient was treated empirically for 2 months with ciprofloxacin. This treatment was also unsuccessful in ameliorating the ulcer. In between the two courses of antibiotics, specimens from the lesion were sent for bacterial and fungal cultures, which revealed normal skin flora. In January 2003, the patient returned to his private dermatologist with three ulcerations. In addition to the nonhealing ulcer on his left forearm, which he had acquired several months earlier, he had also developed a 3.0 cm ulcer on his right arm and a 3.0 cm ulcer on his central back. The patient refused biopsies at this visit. Given the patient's previous diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis, it was thought that the skin lesions might represent ulcerative cutaneous sarcoidosis. Pyoderma gangrenosum was also considered to be a likely diagnosis. Therefore, the patient was started on a course of oral prednisone, an effective therapy for both sarcoidosis and pyoderma gangrenosum. Despite 1 month of treatment with 60 mg/day of prednisone, the ulcers increased, and the patient was subsequently referred to our clinic. Physical examination at the time of presentation revealed steroid acne on the trunk and upper extremities and three non-tender ulcers with erythematous, undermined borders (Figs 1-3). On the left arm, there was an adjacent nodule which the patient attributed to a scar from a previously healed ulcer. Histologic examination of biopsy specimens from all three sites showed similar findings. The lesion contained diffuse, suppurative, granulomatous, inflammatory infiltrates with extensive central necrosis. The infiltrates were composed of histiocytes, multinucleated foreign-body-type giant cells, plasma cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and neutrophil fragments. No organisms were seen in the initial, routinely stained sections. However, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining demonstrated small fungal spores (Fig. 4) morphologically consistent with sporotrichosis, within the cytoplasm of multinucleated histiocytic giant cells (Fig. 5). Additional stains for bacteria and acid-fast organisms were negative. Cultures of the biopsy specimens from all three sites grew Sporothrix schenckii. Further questioning of the patient failed to reveal an obvious source of the infection. The patient denied any history of traumatic skin inoculation and did not engage in gardening or other outdoor activities that are classically associated with sporotrichosis. The patient did admit to blackberry picking on detailed retrospective questioning. Once the diagnosis of sporotrichosis was made, the patient was given 200 mg/day of itraconazole. After 2 months, the patient's ulcers were almost completely healed. The patient's pulmonary complaints were also much improved.

Presentation, histopathologic findings, and clinical outcomes in 7 cases of melanoma in situ of the nail unit.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the presentation, histopathologic findings, and clinical outcomes for a case series of MIS of the nail apparatus because melanoma in situ (MIS) of the nail unit has not been well characterized in the literature. SETTING: A division of a tertiary academic center specializing in micrographic excision of cutaneous neoplasms. DESIGN: Surgical records were searched for cases of MIS of the nail unit for the period of January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2002. The patient demographics and disease presentation, treatment, and clinical course were reviewed. RESULTS: Seven cases of MIS of the nail unit in white patients were identified. Longitudinal melanonychia was present in all cases, but dyspigmentation of the proximal nail fold and onychodystrophy were uncommon. Histopathologic analysis revealed poorly circumscribed proliferations of single cells over nests with variable pagetoid spread. Atypia was variable. Mitotic activity was low. All cases were treated with micrographic surgery. Amputation was avoided in 3 cases and was limited to partial distal interphalangeal amputation in the remainder. Six cases did not recur locally after initial surgical intervention. With an average of 24 months of follow-up, all patients were free of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal melanonychia in a white patient mandates consideration of MIS of the nail unit. Given the nondescript clinical presentation, the threshold for biopsy should be low. The histopathologic findings appear similar to those of MIS in other areas, with asymmetry and poor circumscription predominating. With additional study and further acceptance, micrographically controlled excision has the potential to minimize morbidity. Further investigation is warranted.

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma in a 74-year-old Caucasian male.

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma is an uncommon neoplasm with classification schemes that may be confusing, but with clinical presentations that are relatively consistent. Clinical exam and history can raise the index of suspicion for this condition, although the diagnosis is confirmed only by pathological evaluation. We report such a scenario in the case of a 74-year old male with a slowly expanding oval plaque on his right upper arm.