Consecutive Cases of Pyoderma Gangrenosum Following Dermatologic Surgery.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare ulcerative skin disease commonly associated with pathergy and systemic comorbidities. We present the case of a patient who experienced two episodes of PG following consecutive dermatologic surgeries to the left hand. The initial PG ulcerations occurred simultaneously following Mohs surgery and a standard elliptical excision. Five months later, her PG recurred after Mohs surgery. Our patient denied a history of PG, however, further questioning elicited a medical history significant for Crohn's disease. Dermatologists and Mohs surgeons should consider the diagnosis when evaluating patients with poor postoperative wound healing. Unfortunately, a delay in diagnosis often occurs, as the presentation of postsurgical PG can mimic other common skin conditions. Awareness of PG prior to dermatologic surgery is critical to prevent further postoperative complications and unnecessary debridement.

Augmented supraorbital skin sympathetic nerve activity responses to symptom trigger events in rosacea patients.

Facial flushing in rosacea is often induced by trigger events. However, trigger causation mechanisms are currently unclear. This study tested the central hypothesis that rosacea causes sympathetic and axon reflex-mediated alterations resulting in trigger-induced symptomatology. Twenty rosacea patients and age/sex-matched controls participated in one or a combination of symptom triggering stressors. In protocol 1, forehead skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA; supraorbital microneurography) was measured during sympathoexcitatory mental (2-min serial subtraction of novel numbers) and physical (2-min isometric handgrip) stress. In protocol 2, forehead skin blood flow (laser-Doppler flowmetry) and transepithelial water loss/sweat rate (capacitance hygrometry) were measured during sympathoexcitatory heat stress (whole body heating by perfusing 50°C water through a tube-lined suit). In protocol 3, cheek, forehead, forearm, and palm skin blood flow were measured during nonpainful local heating to induce axon reflex vasodilation. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded via finger photoplethysmography to calculate cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; flux·100/MAP). Higher patient transepithelial water loss was observed (rosacea 0.20 ± 0.02 vs. control 0.10 ± 0.01 mg·cm(-2)·min(-1), P < 0.05). HR and MAP changes were not different between groups during sympathoexcitatory stressors or local heating. SSNA during early mental (32 ± 9 and 9 ± 4% increase) and physical (25 ± 4 and 5 ± 1% increase, rosacea and controls, respectively) stress was augmented in rosacea (both P < 0.05). Heat stress induced more rapid sweating and cutaneous vasodilation onset in rosacea compared with controls. No axon reflex vasodilation differences were observed between groups. These data indicate that rosacea affects SSNA and that hyperresponsiveness to trigger events appears to have a sympathetic component.

Retrospective chart review of skin cancer presence in the wide excisions.

AIM: To investigate cancer cell absence or presence in wide excision after biopsy of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients. METHODS: 200 patients (100 BCC and 100 SCC) from the same dermatology clinic, who had positive margin upon biopsy, were selected from a computer generated randomized report. All selected patients had wide excision following biopsy. To determine the correlation of gender, age distribution and cancer absence, BCC and SCC cases were separated based on excision-cancer absent or present after wide excision. χ(2) tests, Fisher's exact tests were used to analyze the ratio of male to female between excision-cancer absent and excision-cancer present patients, while Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the age distribution in the two groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 16.0 for Windows. RESULTS: Our retrospective chart review of the patients showed that cancer cells were absent in 49% of BCC patients (n = 100) and 64% of SCC patients (n = 100) who had previously had positive margins upon biopsy. Gender analysis showed the ratio of male to female (M/F) in the BCC arm was significantly higher compared with the SCC arm in those with excision-cancer absent (2.06 vs 0.66; P = 0.004; χ(2) test). But M/F of excision-cancer absent and excision-cancer present in neither BCC nor SCC patients was statistically significant. Age adjustment showed no significant difference between excision-cancer absent and excision-cancer present in BCC and SCC patients. Nevertheless, in excision-cancer absent cases, the age distribution showed that the BCC patients were younger than SCC patients (average age 67 vs 74; P < 0.001; Mann-Whitney U test). In addition, our data also indicated that in the patient group of 71-80 years old, there were more SCC patients who showed excision-cancer absence (67.6% vs 39.4%; P = 0.02; χ(2) test). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that approximately 50% or more of BCC and SCC patients with positive margins found on biopsies did not have cancer cells present at the time of wide excisions.

Extracellular calcium chelation and attenuation of calcium entry decrease in vivo cholinergic-induced eccrine sweating sensitivity in humans.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Calcium is an important second messenger in eccrine sweating; however, whether modulation of extracellular Ca(2+) and Ca(2+) entry has the capacity to modulate sweat rate in non-glabrous human skin has not been explored. What is the main finding and its importance? Acetylcholine to sweat rate dose-response relationships identify that local in vivo Ca(2+) chelation and L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonism have the capacity to attenuate the cholinergic sensitivity of eccrine sweat glands. Importantly, these data translate previous glabrous in vitro animal studies into non-glabrous in vivo human skin. Calcium is an important second messenger in eccrine sweating, with both internal and external sources being identified in vitro. It is unclear whether in vivo modulation of extracellular Ca(2+) levels or influx has the capacity to modulate sweat rate in non-glabrous human skin. To test the hypothesis that lowering interstitial Ca(2+) levels would decrease the sensitivity of the ACh to sweat rate (via capacitance hygrometry) dose-response relationship, nine healthy subjects received six ACh doses (1 × 10(-5) to 1 × 10(0) m in 10-fold increments) with and without a Ca(2+) chelator (12.5 mg ml(-1) EDTA) via forearm intradermal microdialysis (protocol 1). To test the hypothesis that attenuating Ca(2+) influx via L-type Ca(2+) channels would also decrease the sensitivity of the ACh to sweat rate dose-response relationship, 10 healthy subjects received similar ACh doses with and without a phenylalkylamine Ca(2+) channel blocker (1 mm verapamil; protocol 2). Non-linear regression curve fitting identified a right-shifted ED50 in EDTA-treated sites compared with ACh alone (-1.0 ± 0.1 and -1.5 ± 0.1 logm, respectively; P < 0.05), but unchanged maximal sweat rate (0.60 ± 0.07 and 0.58 ± 0.11 mg cm(-2) min(-1), respectively; P > 0.05) in protocol 1. Protocol 2 also resulted in a right-shifted ED(50) (verapamil, -0.9 ± 0.1 logm; ACh alone, -1.6 ± 0.2 logm; P < 0.05), with unchanged maximal sweat rate (verapamil, 0.45 ± 0.08 mg cm(-2) min(-1); ACh alone, 0.35 ± 0.06 mg cm(-2) min(-1); P > 0.05). Thus, local in vivo Ca(2+) chelation and L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonism have the capacity to attenuate in vivo cholinergic sensitivity of eccrine sweat glands. These data suggest that interstitial Ca(2+) and its influx via Ca(2+) channels play a functional role in eccrine sweating in intact non-glabrous human skin.

Reed syndrome: an atypical presentation of a rare disease.

Reed syndrome, also known as Multiple Uterine and Cutaneous Leiomyomas (MCUL), is an autosomal dominant defect in the fumurate hydrase gene, leading to a predisposition of leiomyomas of the skin and uterus. Patients with Reed syndrome may present with cutaneous leiomyomas, uterine leiomyomas and/or leiomyosarcomas. A 37-year-old woman presented to the dermatology clinic with several subcutaneous nodules. Punch biopsy was performed and the diagnosis of angioleiomyosarcoma with supervening degenerative changes was made. Medical history was positive for uterine leiomyomas. These concomitant findings led to the diagnosis of Reed syndrome. At the present time, genetic counseling is a suggested screening parameter for patients with multiple cutaneous leiomyomas. The superficial nature of these lesions and the low staging made surgical excision the preferred and actual treatment method. Adjunct radiation and chemotherapy have not been shown to provide clear benefit of survival. Owing to an association with renal cell carcinoma, a referral for nephrology consultation is also recommended.

Erythema Induratum Caused by Mycobacterium chelonei in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Erythema induratum is a disease characterized by nodules on the flexural surface of the lower legs strongly associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the presented case, erythema induratum was found in a middle-aged woman caused by an atypical mycobacterium, Mycobacterium chelonei, identified via culture. Mycobacterium chelonei is best known for its pathogenicity in immunocompromised hosts and has been reported secondary to traumatic implantation. However, the patient described in this case did not have any comorbidities associated with erythema induratum, had a negative purified protein derivative skin test, and was immunocompetent. Disease resolution was achieved with clarithromycin and doxycycline therapy.

Differential vasodilatory responses to local heating in facial, glabrous and hairy skin.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Local heating induces biphasic cutaneous vasodilation in non-glabrous skin of the forearm. However, little data exist in other skin regions, despite the prevalence of facial flushing disorders. We hypothesized that facial skin will have greater initial peak responses to local heating than forearm skin because of neural differences between sites and, furthermore, axon reflex vasodilation will be eliminated in facial sites with sensory blockade. METHODS: Skin blood flow (laser-Doppler flowmetry) responses of healthy, non-obese subjects to local heating (32-42°C in ~5 min, held 40 min) in the forehead (n = 22), cheek (n = 22), forearm (n = 22) and palm (n = 13) were expressed as percentage of maximum cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; flux/mean arterial pressure). In an additional group (n = 7), sensation was blocked (topical prilocaine-lidocaine) prior to the local heating protocol. RESULTS: Prior to heating, CVC differences were noted (forearm = 10 ± 3, cheek = 19 ± 3, forehead = 16 ± 1 and palm = 65 ± 11%CVC; P<0·05). Initial peak CVC was similar between forehead, cheek and forearm (85 ± 3, 92 ± 2, and 91 ± 6%CVC, respectively), but elevated in the palm (120 ± 8%CVC; P<0·05). Compared to facial control sites, sensory blockade delayed increases in both cheek and forehead (P<0·05) CVC but did not change magnitude of the biphasic response (P>0·05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that facial skin initial CVC peaks to local heating are similar to non-glabrous skin. In contrast to forearm responses, facial topical sensory blockade does not abate axon reflex responses to local heating. Palm skin data indicate that maximal skin blood flow is not obtained during local heating as it is in non-glabrous skin.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma masquerading as herpes zoster.

Angiosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of vascular or lymphatic endothelial origin that has a poor prognosis. The insidious symptoms, aggressive nature, and rare occurrence of this neoplasm leave a paucity of optimal treatment information. We describe the atypical presentation of an 88-year-old man who was diagnosed and treated for herpes zoster (HZ) in a local emergency department; consultation and biopsy obtained through our dermatology clinic later revealed a diagnosis of cutaneous angiosarcoma (CA).

CD4+ CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm and plasmacytoid dendritic cell tumor: case report and review of the literature.

CD4+ CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm (HN) is a rare and aggressive neoplasm that has raised controversy regarding its etiology. CD4+ CD56+ HN is thought to be derived from plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and most commonly stains with CD4, CD56, CD123, and T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 (TCL1). Skin manifestations usually are the presenting signs and vary in appearance. Lymph node involvement also is common at the time of presentation, and the natural course of the disease is a progression to leukemia. Treatment of CD4+CD56+ HN focuses on multiple chemotherapeutic regimens but none have been proven to successfully impact overall survival.

Chronic lesions on legs.

The rash was asymptomatic and had developed over the past few years. The patient wasn't taking any prescriptions and hadn't changed detergents.

Dermatology: a specialty that exemplifies the osteopathic medical profession.

Even though the tradition of osteopathic medicine is based in primary care, more osteopathic graduates than in the past are pursuing subspecialties within medicine. Some claim that medical specialties, such as dermatology, compromise osteopathic principles and philosophy. However, the authors contend that dermatology exemplifies the ideals expressed by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, and explain how osteopathic manipulative treatment and the principles of osteopathic medicine can be applied to dermatologic disease and patient care.