Basal cell carcinoma of the sole.

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with a two year history of a plantar lesion. The clinical appearance, a nodular reddish irregular mass about 2 centimeters in diameter, suggested a tumoral lesion. Histologic examination revealed a basal cell carcinoma. The lesion was excised with no recurrence after two years of follow up. The clinical events, and the histological findings are briefly discussed.

Poikilodermatous subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a distinct subset of lupus erythematosus with unique clinical, immunological and genetic features. Among the unusual variants of SCLE, there is a poikilodermic presentation. However, to date, only 1 case of poikilodermatous SCLE has been reported. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to summarize the clinical characteristics and course as well as the pathological, laboratory and immunofluorescence findings of 4 patients with poikilodermatous SCLE. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted including 54 patients diagnosed as having SCLE between 1980 and 2002. RESULTS: Four patients (7.4%) had SCLE. All patients were alive, and none developed severe systemic involvement in up to 36 years (median, 24 years) after the onset of disease. The most noteworthy laboratory finding was the cutaneous deposition of amyloid. CONCLUSION: Poikilodermatous SCLE represents an uncommon variant within the clinicopathological spectrum of SCLE following a favorable course, in spite of extensive cutaneous involvement. Photosensitivity is the pathomechanism explaining, theoretically, the development of both poikiloderma and cutaneous amyloidosis in such cases.

Nitrendipine-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

A 66-year-old man presented with widespread annular and bullous subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), developed after starting treatment for hypertension with the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine. A few days after withdrawal of the drug, while cutaneous manifestations were improving, left hemiparesis occurred. Laboratory investigations showed, in addition to anti-Ro, anti-La and anti-histone antibodies, the presence of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, prolonged APTT and thrombocytopenia. On the basis of the spontaneous regression of the patient's skin lesions after discontinuation of the drug, a possible relationship between nitrendipine intake, the clinical events and the biological findings is discussed.

Ichthyosiform mycosis fungoides.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a skin malignancy of T helper lymphocytes with a wide clinical spectrum. Among the atypical variants of MF, there is an ichthyosis-like presentation. However, to date, only 1 case of ichthyosiform MF has been reported. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to summarize the clinical characteristics and course, and the pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular genetic findings on 4 patients with ichthyosiform MF. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. RESULTS: The 4 patients represented 1.8% of the 221 patients with MF seen by us since 1975. None progressed to systemic disease in up to 12 years (median, 10 years) after the onset of the cutaneous manifestations. Interestingly, skin lesions typical of so-called follicular MF (FMF) were associated in 3 of 4 cases, whereas cutaneous manifestations of classic MF were absent in all 4 patients. CONCLUSION: Ichthyosiform MF represents a rare variant within the clinicopathologic spectrum of MF usually featuring a benign course and a tendency to be associated with lesions of FMF but not with lesions of classic MF.