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Background: Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting dermatosis causing immense psychosocial concern. When medical therapies fail to cause re-pigmentation, surgical modalities are developed to combat the same in stable vitiligo patients. Here we are comparing two such surgeries: smash skin grafting (SSG) and autologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspension (NCES). Aims and Objectives: The aim of this article is to compare the efficacy of SSG and NCES in re-pigmentation of stable vitiligo and to know the feasibility of both the surgeries. Materials and Methods: It is an open, randomized, and prospective study conducted in dermatology outpatient department at a tertiary care center. Thirty patients with single stable vitiligo lesion were randomized into two groups: 15 each in Group A (SSG) and Group B (NCES). Following the surgery, excimer lamp phototherapy was initiated twice weekly. Patients were followed up till 16 weeks of surgery. Photo-documentation was done every month. Grading was performed for the response in the form of re-pigmentation as excellent (>75%), good (50-75%), fair (25-50%), and poor (<25%). The χ2 test was used to analyze statistical significance. Results: Both the surgeries showed initial specks of re-pigmentation at 10-14 days post-surgery. Excellent response (>75% re-pigmentation) was observed in 10 (66.67%) patients in Group A and 9 (60%) patients in Group B. Both the surgeries showed equal response and uniform texture of re-pigmentation. Conclusion: SSG is equally effective when compared with NCES, in causing re-pigmentation. Also, SSG is simple, easy to perform, faster learning curve, less time-consuming, and cost-effective when compared with NCES.
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Subcutaneous phycomycosis is a rare saprophytic fungal infection. We herein report a case of subcutaneous phycomycosis with stony hard swelling on the chest wall as an unusual site of infection. Diagnosis was made based on the clinical, histopathological, and culture studies. Oral treatment with itraconazole resulted in rapid resolution of lesion.
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Introduction: Blister beetle dermatitis (BBD) and herpes zoster (HZ) manifest suddenly with vesicular lesions mimicking each other and progress rapidly. But a lack of definite differentiating criteria yearns the need for better investigating modality. Though histopathology persuades the need, is an invasive procedure, commonly deferred. Thus, dermoscopy, a non-invasive rapid diagnostic tool, can help in differentiating. Objectives: To evaluate different dermoscopic patterns of BBD and HZ to differentiate both and to study dermoscopic features in early and late stages of lesions. Methods: An observational cross-section study conducted in southern India. Nine patients with clinical features suggestive of BBD and HZ were recruited. Lesions were divided arbitrarily into early and late. Dermoscopic examination was performed with handheld dermoscope. Diagnosis was confirmed by skin biopsy and Tzanck smear wherever necessary. Statistical analysis performed using data in terms of frequencies and percentages. Results: Dermoscopy of early BBD lesions showed multiple discrete and confluent yellowish-white structures, brown dots, roundish white globules, gray structures, 'targetoid pattern', brown areas over intense reddish pink background. Late BBD lesions revealed pinkish-white area, reduced gray structures and, dotted and globular vessels. Early HZ lesions showed poly-lobular gray and brown globules, bright pink background, gray globules covered by grayish veil-like structure with gray rim. Late HZ lesions revealed 'solar eclipse' pattern and 'crumpled fabric' patterns. The dermoscopic findings correlated with histopathology. Conclusions: Dermoscopic patterns show peculiar features consistently pertaining to BBD and HZ, thus help in early diagnosis assisting in accurate treatment in both conditions.
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BACKGROUND: Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA) causes extracellular proteinaceous deposits in skin. It is clinically divided into macular amyloidosis, lichen amyloidosis and nodular amyloidosis. Atypical presentations of PLCA make the diagnosis challenging, requiring biopsy to confirm amyloid deposition in the upper papillary dermis. OBJECTIVES: This study used FotoFinder dermoscopy to characterize lichen and macular amyloidosis and correlated the dermoscopic features with histopathological findings. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with a clinical and histopathological diagnosis of PLCA. Dermoscopic examination was performed using the FotoFinder dermoscope, which provides a range of magnification from 20× to 140×. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were included in the study. Common dermoscopic patterns of MA were white or brown central hubs, and common patterns of LA were white structureless, scar-like areas and central hubs. New dermoscopic findings were a day lily appearance in MA and white rosettes in LA. CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy plays a pivotal role in demonstrating characteristic findings of PLCA. These findings were well corelated with histopathology, thus avoiding unnecessary biopsy for arriving at an accurate diagnosis of PLCA.
