Aleukemic leukemia cutis in a child preceding T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

An 8-year-old boy presented with a widespread cutaneous eruption featuring macules, papules, nodules, and ulcers. The histologic infiltrate showed T lymphoblasts, but there was no sign of systemic involvement, so aleukemic leukemia cutis was diagnosed. Two months later, he developed leukemia in peripheral blood and bone marrow that was characterized as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis: an unusual side effect of meropenem.

A male patient was hospitalized as a case of pneumonia. He was diabetic, hypertensive and post Hepatitis "C" "H-C". He reported skin eruption following administration of meropenem. Skin biopsy revealed acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. To elucidate this side effect, we conducted a literature search - this is the second case induced by meropenem. The diagnosis was made after excluding all other possible causes. Dermatologists and clinicians must be aware of this an unusual side effect.

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule: a case of umbilical cutaneous metastasis with signet ring cell histology.

The metastasis of a visceral malignancy to the umbilicus is known as "Sister Mary Joseph's nodule". It is a rare clinical sign indicating advanced, metastasizing intraabdominal cancer. We report a 50-year-old man who developed metastatic skin cancer in the form of semicircular indurated plaque on top of which was a firm mobile rounded nodule at the umbilical area. Histopathological examination demonstrated diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff and mucicarmine positive signet ring cells, suggesting gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining showed that these cells were positive for cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen, suggesting epithelial origin.

Using a 308-nm excimer laser to treat vitiligo in Asians.

BACKGROUND: Current vitiligo therapies require many months of treatment and often result in disappointing outcomes. Treatment with a 308-nm excimer laser has shown promising results in patients with vitiligo. OBJECTIVE: This controlled prospective trial studied the effectiveness of the 308-nm excimer laser for treating vitiligo in Asians. METHODS: Thirty-four patients (14 males and 20 females) with localized vitiligo were enrolled in the study. Vitiligo patches were treated using a 308-nm excimer laser. Lesions were treated twice weekly for 13 weeks. The treatment was started with 50 to 100 mJ/cm2 (according to site) and increased by 50 mJ/cm2 in every session until erythema appeared. Patients were treated for 25 sessions, or until 100% repigmentation, whichever was achieved first. The overall response rate was assessed clinically and by comparison of photographs before and after treatment by two independent investigators. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (12 males and 17 females) completed the study. Lesions on the face responded better than elsewhere on the body. The least responsive areas were the hands and feet. The average number of treatment sessions prior to repigmentation was 11. Untreated control patches remained unchanged. In higher skin phototypes the response was more favorable. There was no significant correlation between the age of the patients and their response to treatment. CONCLUSION: The use of the 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of vitiligo is effective, relatively safe, and more convenient compared to other available modalities of treatment for stable vitiligo with small patches. However, similar to other modalities of treatment, the therapeutic effect is mainly dependent on the location of vitiligo lesions.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine- induced lupus vulgaris in a child.

Lupus vulgaris (LV) is a rare form of cutaneous mycobacterial infection in children. Most cases follow hematogenous or lymphatic seeding, and more rarely from exposure to bacillus Calmette- Guérin (BCG) vaccine. We report a child that received BCG vaccination and developed LV 2 months later.