Phototherapy as a treatment of early-stage mycosis fungoides and predictive factors for disease recurrence: A 17-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Narrowband ultraviolet B and psoralen and ultraviolet A are effective treatment options, but studies of their treatment efficacy and disease relapse remain limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed (1) to determine the efficacy of narrowband ultraviolet B and psoralen and ultraviolet A as a treatment for early-stage mycosis fungoides and explore the predictive factors for complete remission and (2) to determine the relapse rate and analyze their predictive factors, including the utility of maintenance therapy. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of 61 patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides (IA - IB) treated with narrowband ultraviolet B or psoralen and ultraviolet A as the first-line therapy from January 2002 to December 2018 at the Division of Dermatology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve were performed for the main outcomes. RESULTS: A complete remission was achieved by 57 (93.5%) patients. The median time to remission was 7.80 ± 0.27 months. Types of phototherapy (narrowband ultraviolet B or psoralen and ultraviolet A), age and gender did not associate with time to remission, while the presence of poikiloderma and higher disease stage led to a longer time to remission. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 50.8%. The median time to relapse was 24.78 ± 5.48 months. In patients receiving phototherapy during the maintenance period, a treatment duration longer than six months was associated with a significantly longer relapse-free interval. CONCLUSION: Narrow-band-ultraviolet B and psoralen and ultraviolet A are effective treatment options for early-stage mycosis fungoides. Maintenance treatment by phototherapy for at least six months seems to prolong remission.

Ashy Dermatosis and Lichen Planus Pigmentosus: The Histopathological Differences.

BACKGROUND: Ashy dermatosis (AD) and lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) are both acquired macular pigmentation of uncertain aetiology. Despite the controversy surrounding their entities, recent global consensus has concluded that they are 2 different diseases with distinct clinical presentations. Nevertheless, there are limited data on their histopathological comparisons. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in histopathological findings between AD and LPP. METHODS: Electronic records and photographs of patients with the diagnosis of AD or LPP from January 2008 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed by a dermatologist. Patients were then classified into groups with AD and LPP, based on the clinical descriptions from the recent consensus. Those with history/clinical presentations suggestive of other causes of macular pigmentation were excluded. The histopathological diagnosis of AD and LPP was then reevaluated by a blinded dermatopathologist. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four patients with acquired macular pigmentation were identified; 24 were excluded due to clinical history or photographs being inconsistent with AD or LPP. Of the remaining 100 patients, 71 had clinical findings consistent with LPP while 29 had AD. The prevalence of epidermal hyperkeratosis was significantly higher in LPP when compared to AD (33.8% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), as well as epidermal hypergranulosis (35.2% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), lichenoid dermatitis (49.3% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001), perifollicular infiltration (47.9% vs.10.3%, p < 0.001), and perifollicular fibrosis (35.2% vs. 10.3%, p=0.01). In addition, the degree of pigmentary incontinence was more severe in LPP (21.1% vs. 3.5%, p=0.015). For AD, vacuolization of the epidermal basal cell layer was more common (96.4% vs. 77.5%, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Although most cases of AD and LPP can be diagnosed clinically, in doubtful cases, histopathological findings of lichenoid dermatitis, epidermal hyperkeratosis/hypergranulosis, and moderate to severe pigmentary incontinence can help distinguish LPP from AD.

Linear and Annular Lupus Panniculitis of the Scalp: Case Report with Emphasis on Trichoscopic Findings and Review of the Literature.

Linear and annular lupus panniculitis of the scalp (LALPS) is a unique subset of lupus panniculitis, which results in non-scarring alopecia along the Blaschko line of the scalp in an otherwise healthy young patient. Numerous cases have been reported around the world, but data on their trichoscopic findings and correlations with the underlying pathology is sparse. We hereby present a case of 23-year-old male with LALPS and further describe his trichoscopic findings as well as their correlations with histopathological features.

Nonscarring alopecia in systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross-sectional study with trichoscopic, histopathologic, and immunopathologic analyses.

BACKGROUND: Nonscarring alopecia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is widely recognized, but reports on its clinical, trichoscopic, histopathologic, and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) features are still limited. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the different clinical patterns, trichoscopic, histopathologic, and DIF features of nonscarring alopecia in SLE and to prove its association with disease activity. METHODS: Patients with SLE with and without nonscarring alopecia had full physical/trichoscopic examination and scalp biopsy. Their disease activity scores and laboratory data were evaluated and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with SLE had different patterns of nonscarring alopecia, including mild diffuse alopecia (43.8% [n = 14]), severe diffuse alopecia (15.6% [n = 5]), patchy alopecia (28.1% [n = 9]), and lupus hair (12.5% [n = 4]). The most common trichoscopic findings were arborizing/interconnecting vessels (83% [n = 26]). Histopathologic examination showed interface changes along the dermoepidermal junction (87.5% [n = 28]) and follicular epithelium (40.6% [n = 13]). On DIF, homogeneous granular deposition was detected along the dermoepidermal junction (78.1% [n = 25]) and follicular epithelium (78.1% [n = 25]). When compared with 10 patients with SLE without alopecia, there was a significantly higher SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 score and prevalence of proteinuria (>1 g/d). LIMITATIONS: This was a small, cross-sectional, single-center study. CONCLUSIONS: Nonscarring alopecia in SLE shows lupus erythematosus-specific changes on histology and DIF. Hair loss in SLE can be considered as an indicator of active disease.

Acquired Macular Pigmentation of Unknown Etiology.

Acquired macular pigmentation of unknown etiology is a new umbrella term that encompasses a group of diseases that, while having similar clinical and histological features, their true entities are controversial, and a global consensus regarding these conditions is still lacking. The conditions comprised by the term are ashy dermatosis, erythema dyschromicum perstans, lichen planus pigmentosus, and idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation. In this review, we compare the clinical and histological features of these conditions that comprise aquired macular pimgentation of unknown etiology, as well as review their responses to treatment.

Phototoxic Reaction Induced by Pazopanib.

Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) are a novel target therapy that offers promising long-term survival for patients with advanced-stage cancer. However, they cause a wide range of adverse reactions, skin and skin appendage being the most prevalent. Photosensitivity reactions are well-recognized effects from certain MKIs such as sunitinib and vandetanib. However, phototoxic reaction induced by pazopanib has never been reported. We present here the first case of pazopanib-induced phototoxic drug reaction in a patient with renal cell carcinoma.

Hair and Scalp Changes in Cutaneous and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) commonly involves the hair and scalp. Alopecia can result from direct activity of disease on the scalp or from the state of physical stress in the form of telogen effluvium. Discoid lupus erythematosus and lupus panniculitis/profundus are known to cause scarring alopecia, while accumulation of recent studies has shown that non-scarring alopecia in SLE may have different subtypes, comprising lupus erythematosus-specific and lupus erythematosus-nonspecific changes on histology. This review aims to summarize the clinical pattern, trichoscopic, histopathological, and direct immunofluorescence features of different types of alopecia in cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as exploring their relationship with SLE disease activity.