[Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus with unusual manifestation of lupus-associated panniculitis]. / Juveniler systemischer Lupus erythematodes mit der ungewöhnlichen Manifestation einer Lupus-assoziierten Pannikulitis.

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease with broad heterogeneity of clinical manifestations. Diagnosing JSLE is often very challenging. This life-threatening, unpredictable, and relapsing disease, which may affect various organ systems, requires interdisciplinary, lifelong care. Here, we report the case of a 13-year-old patient with JSLE suffering from recurrent arthralgia, lupus panniculitis, and rashes that were successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone.

[Phlebology in German departments of dermatology. An analysis on behalf of the German Society of Phlebology]. / Phlebologie an deutschen Hautkliniken. Eine Bestandsaufnahme im Auftrag der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie.

BACKGROUND: Phlebologic diseases have become extremely common and have major socio-economic impact. However, the percentage of dermatologists working in phlebology appears to be decreasing according to the data of the German Society of Phlebology (DGP). METHODS: To investigate the reasons for this development, we--on behalf of the DGP--sent a questionnaire to 120 German Departments of Dermatology in autumn 2012. RESULTS: In 76 returned questionnaires, the number of physicians with additional fellowship training in phlebology averaged 1.5; the average number of those who fulfill the criteria for training fellows in phlebology was 0.9. In 71.1 % of the departments there was a phlebologist. A special phlebologic outpatient clinic existed in 73.7 % of the departments. Sonography with Doppler (89.5 %) and duplex (86.8 %) was used as the most frequent diagnostic tool. For therapy, compression (94.7 %), sclerotherapy (liquid 78.9 %, foam 63.2 %, catheter 18.4 %), endoluminal thermic procedures (radio wave 28.9 %, laser 17.1 %) and surgery (especially crossectomy and stripping 67.1 %, phlebectomy of tributaries 75 %) were used. The average number of treatments was very heterogenous in the different departments. CONCLUSIONS: Phlebology definitely plays an important role in dermatology. Most departments fulfill the formal criteria for the license to conduct advanced training in phlebology. A wide spectrum of phlebological diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is available.

[Radiation-induced Favre-Racouchot disease]. / Strahleninduzierter Morbus Favre-Racouchot.

A 71-year-old man presented with disfiguring skin changes of the nose and cheek. The patient had undergone a surgery of a malignant melanoma of the right paranasal sinus and then 5 months later received radiation therapy with 60 Gy total dose to the endonasal area. Physical examination revealed elastosis, open and closed comedones, and cysts in the field of radiation exposure. Taking in account the exclusive affection of the irradiated skin, we diagnosed a radiation-induced Favre-Racouchot disease. We recommended topical treatment with vitamin A derivatives in combination with physical comedo extraction.

[Epithelioid sarcoma of the right hand]. / Epitheloidzelliges Sarkom der rechten Hand.

A 35-year-old man presented with swelling, indurations and nodules on the thumb, wrist and fingers of the right hand. History revealed that the findings were slowly progressive and had been present for at least eight years. Histopathologic analysis of a nodule showed a diffuse infiltrate with atypical spindle-shaped cells and expression of cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and CD34; the diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma (ES) was made. Because of diffuse extension of the tumor, forearm amputation was performed along with axillary dissection and local radiotherapy because of axillary lymph node metastases. ES is a rare subtype of soft tissue sarcoma with a harmless appearance and indolent course over years. ES represents a diagnostic challenge, with consequent delay in diagnosis and adequate treatment. The most important measure in the treatment of ES is early surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy if local metastases are present.

Do insulin-like growth factor associated proteins qualify as a tumor marker? Results of a prospective study in 163 cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, -2 and Insulin like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) are involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. It has never been evaluated, if the IGF-system can serve as a tumor marker in neoplasms. METHODS: In our prospective study 163 patients with colorectal cancer (22), prostate cancer (21), head and neck tumors (17), lymphomas (20), lung cancer (34) and other entities (49) were analysed for their IGF and IGFBP serum levels at the beginning and the end of radiotherapy and compared to 13 healthy people. Subgroups of patients with local tumor disease versus metastatic disease, primary and recurrent therapy and curative versus palliative therapy were compared. RESULTS: The serum levels of IGF-2 were significantly elevated in patients with prostate and colorectal cancer. However, sensitivity and specificity were only 70%. IGFBP-2 serum levels were elevated in patients with head and neck tumors. Again sensitivity and specificity were only 73%. A difference between local disease and metastatic disease could not be found. A difference between IGF serum levels before and after radiotherapy could not be detected. CONCLUSION: The IGF-system cannot serve as a new tumor marker. The detected differences are very small, sensitivity and specificity are too low. IGF measurement is not useful for the evaluation of the success of radiotherapy in malignancies.

Sunitinib induced pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcerations.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a non-infectious neutro?philic skin disease commonly associated with underlying systemic diseases. Histopathological and laboratory diagnostics are unspecific in the majority of the cases and the diagnosis is made in accordance with the clinical picture. Here, we report the case of a 69-year old man with progredient pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcerations under treatment with sunitinib due to hepatocellular carcinoma. A conventional ulcer therapy did not lead to a regression of the lesions. Solely cessation of sunitinib therapy resulted in an improvement of the ulcerations. Sunitinib is a multikinase inhibitor that targets the PDGF-α- and ?ß-, VEGF-1-3-, KIT-, FLT3-, CSF-1- and RET-receptor, thereby impairing tumour proliferation, pathological angiogenesis and metastasation. Here, we demonstrate that pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcers may represent a serious side effect of sunitinib-based anti-cancer treatment.

[Multimodal therapy in locally advanced gastric cancer]. / Multimodale Therapie beim lokal fortgeschrittenen Magenkarzinom.

Locally advanced gastric cancers are characterized by poor prognosis. Clinical outcome can be improved if surgery becomes part of a multimodal treatment approach. The purpose of neoadjuvant treatment includes downsizing of the primary tumor, improvement of the T- and N- categories, and early therapy of micrometastasis. Several controlled clinical trials showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy as well as neoadjuvant combined radio-chemotherapy, especially for tumors of the gastroesophageal junction, can improve the rate of primary R0 resections, relapse-free survival, and overall survival. While patients with locally advanced tumors clearly benefit from this strategy, the approach is still controversial in patients with early stage disease. Nonresponders do not benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. Therefore, response evaluation and response prediction are of great importance. After successful neoadjuvant chemotherapy, patients should undergo gastrectomy with D(2)-lymphadenectomy because of a high probability of lymph node metastasis. This article summarizes current developments in this field.

[Calciphylaxis. Pathogenesis and therapy]. / Kalziphylaxie. Pathogenese und Therapie.

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease associated with thrombotic cutaneous ischemia and necrosis. Lesions are usually located on the lower extremities, buttocks and the abdomen. Calciphylaxis is recognized by medial calcification, inflammation and subintimal fibrosis of cutaneous arterioles. Calcification, thrombus formation and occlusion occur sequential before tissue necrosis. The disease is usually observed in patients with end-stage renal disease and hyperparathyroidism. In end-stage renal disease, an elevated parathyroid hormone level, hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia direct to vascular mineralization. Calciphylaxis affects about 4% of hemodialysis patients. The clinical syndrome is characterized by a high mortality rate. The most important measure is an active multidisciplinary management approach, with intention to wound care and prevention of sepsis.

[Incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome)]. / Incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger-Syndrom).

A female infant, aged two weeks, presented with linear erythematous crusted papules, plaques and blisters on the right leg which had occurred two days after birth. Histological examination revealed typical features of incontinentia pigmenti in the inflammatory stage. Incontinentia pigmenti is a rare X-linked dominant genodermatosis caused by mutations in the NEMO gene located at Xq28 affecting the skin, different organ systems, the central nervous system, eyes, teeth and skeleton with variable expression. We summarize important clinical and diagnostic aspects of incontinentia pigmenti as well as its genetic and molecular basis.

The role of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma represents a broad spectrum of disorders with various manifestations, clinical courses, and therapeutic considerations. Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the skin being affected by erythematous patches, plaques, or tumors. The related Sézary syndrome is a more aggressive form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with cutaneous and leukemic manifestations. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular and biologic behavior of T cells in these disorders have facilitated the development of novel treatments, using biologic agents, phototherapeutic methods, and irradiation techniques. Nevertheless, there remains a continued need to develop new therapeutic options, particularly for patients with advanced-stage and treatment-refractory disease. At present, hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation has the best chance for expanding the therapeutic armamentarium of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In advanced-stage mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome, stem cell transplantation may result in sustained remissions and improvement of progression-free survival. However, physicians have to be aware of severe clinical problems like graft-versus-host disease as well as increased risk of infection and secondary cancers. In this review, we focus on the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the therapy of mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome.

[Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Solitary facial lesion]. / Langerhans-Zell-Histiozytose. Isolierte kutane Manifestation im Bereich des Gesichtes.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is the general term for all clinical entities characterized by a proliferation of dendritic cells that are phenotypically identical to the Langerhans cells of the skin. As dendritic cells are present in nearly every tissue of the body, Langerhans cell histiocytosis shows a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, mostly in the bone (approximately 80%) and skin (approximately 60%). Langerhans cell histiocytosis is basically a disease of the childhood and early youth, but can rarely occur in the elderly. Here, we report on a 70-year-old man presenting with a single facial lesion of Langerhans cell histiocytosis and summarize the most important clinical aspects as well as current therapeutic concepts.

[Cutaneous side effects of hydroxyurea treatment for polycythemia vera]. / Kutane Nebenwirkungen einer Hydroxyurea-Therapie bei Polycythaemia vera.

A 68-year-old women with polycythemia vera was treated with hydroxyurea for 8 years and developed painful ulcers on her lower legs, multiple hypertrophic actinic keratoses and a squamous cell carcinoma. After discontinuing hydroxyurea therapy the leg ulcers resolved within 8 weeks. The hypertrophic actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma were treated with cryotherapy and excision, respectively. Hydroxyurea induces a variety of cutaneous side effects such as painful leg ulcers and squamous cell carcinomas. Given the wide variety of adverse cutaneous side effects associated with long-term hydroxyurea therapy, the first step in management is to insure that physicians and patients are aware of the specific risks of this treatment. Patients under hydroxyurea therapy should be monitored closely by dermatologists to early detect and treat the cutaneous side effects.

[Merkel cell carcinoma. Viral genesis and new therapeutic options?]. / Merkel-Zell-Karzinom. Virale Genese und neue Therapieoptionen?

Merkel cell carcinoma (cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma) is a rare, highly malignant, neuroendocrine tumor of the skin with predominance in older patients. The tumor is most often located in the sun-exposed skin of the head, the neck and -as in our patient - the extremities. Notably, the tumor bears a high risk of an early regional lymph node as well as distant metastases. Clinically, only a presumptive diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma can be established. The definite diagnosis is made by histological and immunohistological methods. Surgical excision with a safety margin should be combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy. In advanced tumor stages (lymph node or visceral metastasis), a remission can be achieved by different chemotherapy schedules in combination with radiation. Recently, a previously unknown polyomavirus, named Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV or MCPyV), has been identified in 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas. In the near future, these novel findings could be utilized to distinguish Merkel cell carcinoma from small round cell cancers and could lead to the development of new therapeutic options.

[Successful use of allogeneic stem cell transplantation for treatment-refractory mycosis fungoides]. / Erfolgreicher Einsatz einer allogenen Stammzelltransplantation bei therapierefraktärer Mycosis fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and characterized by a chronic progressive course spanning decades. The choice of treatment options should be tailored to the stage depending on the extent and aggressiveness of the disease and taking the individual situation of the patient into consideration. Long-term complete remissions can only be achieved in the early phase of the disease, while there is no therapy that results in a cure or long-term remission in advanced stages. In young patients with a treatment-refractory course of mycosis fungoides, allogeneic stem cell transplantation represents an important alternative option to manage the disease since complete clinical remission can be obtained even in advanced stages.

[Cutaneous larva migrans]. / Kutane Larva migrans.

As a result of the rise of mass tourism with increasingly cheap and exotic destinations, tropical diseases are becoming an increasingly important part of dermatology. Infection with cutaneous larva migrans is one of the most common "souvenirs" from the tropics. The disease is caused by the nematode infection with dog or cat hookworm parasites (Ancylostoma braziliense or A. caninum). The characteristic manifestation is a gyrated, serpiginous and in some cases vesicular erythema, which appears after penetration of the epidermis by the parasite and the subsequent intraepidermal migration of the larva. This is often accompanied by intense pruritus in the affected skin. The infection is usually found in those areas of the foot, calf or buttocks exposed by walking or sitting on sand. Although subjectively very unpleasant, the disease is self-limiting and resolves after several weeks; it is treated locally in most cases (e.g. using cryotherapy). The prognosis of the disease is excellent, but a prolonged course or complications have been observed, e.g. due to superinfection.