Metastatic hidradenocarcinoma: a report of two rare cases.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenocarcinoma is a rare malignant sweat gland tumour, characterized by a slow but aggressive course, with high rates of local recurrence and metastasis. Due to its rarity, histological criteria and therapeutic guidelines are poorly defined, posing a major challenge for clinicians and pathologists. OBJECTIVES: To present two new cases of metastatic hidradenocarcinoma as well as a review of the literature. MATERIALS & METHODS: We describe two case studies and a review of the literature based on a search using the MEDLINE (PubMed) electronic database. RESULTS: The first patient was a 61-year-old woman with a perimamillary hidradenocarcinoma that arose from the malignant transformation of a benign childhood lesion and developed regional lymph node metastases after wide excision and adjuvant radiotherapy. The second patient was a 63-year-old man who developed cutaneous and renal metastases several years after the complete excision of a lumbar hidradenocarcinoma. As far as we can ascertain, kidney metastasis from hidradenocarcinoma has not previously been described. CONCLUSION: Most authors recommend wide excision as the treatment of choice for hidradenocarcinoma, however, optimal adjuvant therapy remains to be determined. Our cases add to the limited knowledge available, but high-quality studies to find new effective treatments are needed.

Normolipemic Plane Xanthoma.

A 77-year-old man, otherwise healthy, presented with multiple symmetric yellowish patches in his axillary folds and abdomen that had evolved for 6 months (Figures 1 and 2). The lesions were initially confined to the axillary folds but have since disseminated during last 3 months. The patient was asymptomatic, and the physical examination was normal. Dermatoscopic evaluation of the yellowish patches showed a yellow homogeneous amorphous structure (Figure 3). (SKINmed. 2022;20:228-230).

Case for diagnosis. Suppurative nodule or something deeper?

The authors report the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of total left hip arthroplasty nine years previously presenting with a large infiltrated plaque on the posterior area of the left thigh with three months of evolution without systemic symptoms or elevated inflammatory markers. Computed tomography of the left lower limb revealed a 12-centimeter linear extension of the lesion to the posterior part of the left proximal femur. Prosthesis joint infection, although rare, is a surgical complication to be taken into account, even if the surgery was performed many years before.

Case for diagnosis. Suppurative nodule or something deeper?

Abstract: The authors report the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of total left hip arthroplasty nine years previously presenting with a large infiltrated plaque on the posterior area of the left thigh with three months of evolution without systemic symptoms or elevated inflammatory markers. Computed tomography of the left lower limb revealed a 12-centimeter linear extension of the lesion to the posterior part of the left proximal femur. Prosthesis joint infection, although rare, is a surgical complication to be taken into account, even if the surgery was performed many years before.

Cowden syndrome: clinical case and a brief review.

Cowden syndrome is a rare genodermatosis of autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by multiple hamartomas in several organs and an increased risk of malignancies. We present the case of a 53-year-old man with a history of benign and malignant thyroid disease, intestinal polyposis, and Chiari malformation. He had several trichilemmomas, papillomatosis of the oral cavity, macular pigmentation of the glans penis, among other clinical features suggestive of Cowden syndrome. Given the suspicion, genetic study was conducted and PTEN mutation was identified. Cowden syndrome affects 1:200,000 individuals. Mucocutaneous lesions are almost always present and there may be other typical features involving other organs, namely thyroid, colon, and brain. Mucocutaneous lesions may be the initial manifestation of this disorder and usually precede the onset of malignant lesions, making timely diagnosis essential for proper monitoring and screening.

[Cutaneous malignant melanoma: a retrospective study of seven years (2006-2012)]. / Melanoma maligno cutâneo: estudo retrospetivo de sete anos (2006-2012).

INTRODUCTION: Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer and its incidence has been increasing in recent decades. The cure depends on early diagnosis and understanding melanoma epidemiology is of great importance for the implementation of programs of primary prevention and early detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical cases of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2012 at Centro Hospitalar de São João, in Porto. RESULTS: An overall of 148 cases of melanoma were analyzed and a female predominance was observed (ratio F:M - 1.6:1). The average age at diagnosis was 61 years. The locations most frequently affected were the lower limbs and trunk. In males the back was the most frequently involved, while in females the lesions occurred preferentially in the legs. Superficial spreading melanoma prevailed in almost all age groups. There was a predominance of thin melanomas and the mitotic index was intermediate (1-6 mitoses/ mm2) in most patients. The ulceration was present in 22.3% of cases and prevailed in thick melanomas as well in nodular subtype. Most patients present at stage IA. There was progression to metastatic disease in 20 patients. DISCUSSION: The profile of patients with cutaneous melanoma in Centro Hospitalar de São João has characteristics relatively similar to those described in the literature. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of thin melanomas, generally with a better outcome, is probably the result of an earlier detection.

Introdução: O melanoma maligno é a neoplasia cutânea mais agressiva, e a sua incidência tem vindo a aumentar nas últimas décadas. A possibilidade de cura depende de um diagnóstico atempado, sendo fundamental o conhecimento da sua epidemiologia para a implementação de programas de prevenção primária e deteção precoce do melanoma. Material e Métodos: Foi efetuada revisão dos processos clínicos dos doentes com melanoma maligno cutâneo primário, diagnosticados entre janeiro de 2006 e dezembro de 2012, no Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto. Resultados: Analisaram-se os 148 casos de melanoma diagnosticados neste período, tendo-se observado um predomínio do sexo feminino (razão F:M - 1,6:1). A média etária na altura do diagnóstico foi de 61 anos. As localizações mais frequentemente envolvidas foram os membros inferiores e o tronco. No sexo masculino o dorso foi o local mais afetado, enquanto no sexo feminino as lesões ocorreram, preferencialmente, nas pernas. O melanoma de extensão superficial foi o subtipo predominante em quase todas as faixas etárias. Verificou-se um predomínio dos melanomas finos e o índice mitótico foi intermédio (1-6 mitoses/ mm2) na maioria dos doentes. A ulceração esteve presente em 22,3% dos casos e predominou nos melanomas espessos e no subtipo nodular. A maioria dos doentes encontrava-se no estádio IA. A progressão para doença metastática ocorreu em 20 doentes. Discussão: O perfil do doente com melanoma cutâneo, no Centro Hospitalar de São João, apresenta características relativamente semelhantes às descritas na literatura. Conclusão: O predomínio dos melanomas finos, considerados de melhor prognóstico, é provavelmente, o resultado de um diagnóstico cada vez mais precoce.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome/erythema multiforme major and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in young patients.

Erythema multiforme major (EMM) is an acute, self-limited mucocutaneous disease characterized by the abrupt onset of symmetrical fixed red papules evolving to target lesions. It is triggered mainly by infections, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or drugs. In instances of extensive skin lesions with "giant" targets, prominent involvement of several mucous sites and fever, it may be difficult to distinguish from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a rarer, life-threatening reaction which is mainly drug-induced. We report a 7-year old boy with SJS and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and 3 patients with erythema multiforme (EM) and co-infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae: a 3-year old girl and a 29-year old man developed EMM lesions associated to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumonia and a 20-year old woman with EMM associated to herpes simplex type 2 and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. None of the 4 patients had history of drug intake in the last two months. Chlamydia pneumoniae is an intracellular bacteria responsible for respiratory infections. Despite the fact that its role in SJS/EMM has been rarely reported, our cases suggest that it may cause SJS and trigger EM when co-infecting a patient, either with Mycoplasma pneumoniae or herpes simplex. We conclude that infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae should be suspected and ruled out in every patient with SJS/EMM, especially in those with signs of respiratory infection.

Chalazion surgery: advantages of a subconjunctival approach.

The meibomian glands, present within the tarsus, produce an oily fluid which is part of the tear film. The obstruction of this gland is common, and results in a meibomian cyst or chalazion. Initially, a chalazion may spontaneously resolve, or respond to conservative measures such as warm compresses and topical antibiotics. However, sometimes the lesion becomes persistent and prominent, leading to visual and aesthetic problems, requiring a surgical solution. We report a 23-year-old man, with a right lower eyelid chalazion, persisting for more than 1 year, refractory to local measures that was submitted to surgical correction via the subconjunctival approach. This report emphasizes the advantages of this technique, namely the fast and simple procedure, with an excellent cosmetic result.

Cutaneous lesions as the first manifestation of systemic follicular lymphoma in an HIV patient.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients have an increased incidence of lymphomas, particularly when there is a significant immunosuppression. Most commonly, they are non-Hodgkin B cell type with a high or intermediate grade and have an extranodal presentation. We report the case of a 38-year-old man with HIV infection who presented with a 1-year history of a painless tumor on the back and lymphadenopathies. The diagnosis of B cell lymphoma follicle center cell type was established by skin biopsy. Staging included a bone marrow biopsy revealing infiltration by the lymphoma and a whole-body computed tomographic scan showing multiple cervical and axillary lymphadenopathies with necrotic center. Biopsy of an axillary lymph node revealed caseating epithelioid granulomas and Ziehl-Neelson staining was positive for acid-fast bacilli. The patient started therapy for tuberculosis and polychemotherapy for lymphoma with complete response. This report illustrates a case of simultaneous occurrence of tuberculosis and systemic follicular lymphoma presenting in skin in an HIV patient.