Povidone-iodine induced post-surgical irritant contact dermatitis localized outside of the surgical incision area. Report of 27 cases and a literature review.

BACKGROUND: Povidone-iodine solution is an antiseptic that is used worldwide as surgical paint and is considered to have a low irritant potential. Post-surgical severe irritant dermatitis has been described after the misuse of this antiseptic in the surgical setting. METHODS: Between January 2011 and June 2013, 27 consecutive patients with post-surgical contact dermatitis localized outside of the surgical incision area were evaluated. Thirteen patients were also available for patch testing. RESULTS: All patients developed dermatitis the day after the surgical procedure. Povidone-iodine solution was the only liquid in contact with the skin of our patients. Most typical lesions were distributed in a double lumbar parallel pattern, but they were also found in a random pattern or in areas where a protective pad or an occlusive medical device was glued to the skin. The patch test results with povidone-iodine were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Povidone-iodine-induced post-surgical dermatitis may be a severe complication after prolonged surgical procedures. As stated in the literature and based on the observation that povidone-iodine-induced contact irritant dermatitis occurred in areas of pooling or occlusion, we speculate that povidone-iodine together with occlusion were the causes of the dermatitis epidemic that occurred in our surgical setting. Povidone-iodine dermatitis is a problem that is easily preventable through the implementation of minimal routine changes to adequately dry the solution in contact with the skin.

Treatment of stage Ia and Ib mycosis fungoides with psoralen UVA monotherapy: an observational study in tertiary hospitals in the Canary Islands.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common form of primary cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Psoralen combined with ultraviolet A (PUVA) is a first-line treatment for early-stage disease. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness of and tolerance to PUVA monotherapy in MF. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the files of patients who received PUVA for stage I disease. The study included 31 patients, of whom 32% presented with stage Ia and 67% with stage Ib disease, and 68% presented with patch and 32% with plaque disease. All patients received treatment three times per week. RESULTS: Complete response (CR) was achieved in 71% of patients. The median cumulative dose of UVA at CR was 211.7 J/cm(2) . There was a significant difference in median cumulative dose at CR between patients with plaque and patch disease, respectively, but not between patients with stage Ia and Ib disease. Median disease-free survival (DFS) was 230 weeks. Patients with patch disease achieved longer DFS than those with plaque disease (P = 0.004), although DFS was similar in stage Ia and Ib patients. Of the patients who received maintenance therapy, 58% relapsed. Univariate analysis showed patch disease to be a predictive factor for CR, but no predictors of relapse were identified. A total of 71% of patients developed clinical adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Psoralen with UVA is a safe and effective treatment for early-stage MF. Patch disease responds more favorably than plaque disease and is associated with a longer period of DFS. Maintenance treatment does not appear to reduce recurrence. Current evidence suggests that the proposed revision to the classification of MF, which takes into account the extent and type of disease, more accurately predicts response to PUVA.

Incidental adreno-cortical adenoma, why surgery? a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Incidental adrenal tumors are commonly benign, but reports demonstrate that if the characteristics of the tumor are not clear, on images surgery is the procedure of choice. Our objective through this case is to show that laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe approach for adrenal incidental tumor regardless of radiological findings. CASE REPORT: A 52 year-old female with arterial hypertension (HBP), cramps, and back pain at right side, probably related to her chronic back pain history. She went for check up and a left adrenal mass on MRI described as myelolipoma was found incidentally. Laboratories were unremarkable except aldosterone and cortisol levels were slightly elevated. She was treated for hypertension for about a year. The patient underwent to a successful laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, after which the patient blood pressure was stable with out any medications, and the aldosterone and cortisol levels decreased. The pathological report was adrenal cortical adenoma with central hemorrhage and not a myelolipoma as described in images on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CONCLUSION: The use of imaging for diagnosis, clinical management and decision making is very controversial. Laparoscopic surgery for adrenal masses is a safe procedure for tumors of 6 cm regardless of the radiological description.