Acanthosis Nigricans associated with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.

Acanthosis nigricans (AN), an entity recognized since the 19th century, is a dermatopathy associated with insulin-resistant conditions, endocrinopathies, drugs, chromosome abnormalities and neoplasia. The latter, also known as malignant AN, is mostly related to abdominal neoplasms. Malignant AN occurs frequently among elderly patients. In these cases, the onset is subtle, and spreading involves the flexural regions of the body, particularly the axillae, palms, soles, and mucosa. Gastric adenocarcinoma is the most frequent associated neoplasia, but many others have been reported. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), although already reported, is rarely associated with malignant AN. The authors report the case of a woman who was being treated for depression but presented a long-standing and marked weight loss, followed by darkening of the neck and the axillary regions. Physical examination disclosed a tumoral mass in the left flank and symmetrical, pigmented, velvety, verrucous plaques on both axillae, which is classical for AN. The diagnostic work-up disclosed a huge renal mass, which was resected and further diagnosed as a RCC. The post-operative period was uneventful and the skin alteration was evanescent at the first follow-up consultation. The authors call attention to the association of AN with RCC.

Acanthosis Nigricans associated with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

Acanthosis nigricans (AN), an entity recognized since the 19th century, is a dermatopathy associated with insulin-resistant conditions, endocrinopathies, drugs, chromosome abnormalities and neoplasia. The latter, also known as malignant AN, is mostly related to abdominal neoplasms. Malignant AN occurs frequently among elderly patients. In these cases, the onset is subtle, and spreading involves the flexural regions of the body, particularly the axillae, palms, soles, and mucosa. Gastric adenocarcinoma is the most frequent associated neoplasia, but many others have been reported. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), although already reported, is rarely associated with malignant AN. The authors report the case of a woman who was being treated for depression but presented a long-standing and marked weight loss, followed by darkening of the neck and the axillary regions. Physical examination disclosed a tumoral mass in the left flank and symmetrical, pigmented, velvety, verrucous plaques on both axillae, which is classical for AN. The diagnostic work-up disclosed a huge renal mass, which was resected and further diagnosed as a RCC. The post-operative period was uneventful and the skin alteration was evanescent at the first follow-up consultation. The authors call attention to the association of AN with RCC

A inclusão da internet na relação médico-paciente: apenas prós? / The inclusion of internet in patient-physician relationship: benefits only?

O recurso à internet para obtenção de informações sobre saúde tem provocado avaliações geralmente favoráveis por parte de pacientes e médicos nas indagações a respeito. No entanto, com maior atenção, percebe-se que nem todos os profissionais ratificam essas avaliações ou comungam do otimismo dispensado a essa variável. O objetivo deste estudo foi alinhar seus desdobramentos na relação médico-paciente, buscando um contraponto entre o caráter facilitador e o caráter de desafios inerentes a essa inclusão, abordando, inclusive, seus riscos potenciais à adesão ao tratamento. Sobre a expansão desse recurso, acessível tanto aos médicos quanto ao público leigo, foram lançadas perguntas básicas: quem recorre aos portais de saúde, quando e por que o faz, e quais os desdobramentos desse recurso sobre o médico e sobre seu vínculo com o paciente? Pacientes e médicos se beneficiam do uso da internet. Os primeiros, adquirindo segurança e capacidade de participação no tratamento; os últimos, obtendo atualização e informação facilmente disponíveis. No entanto, alheios a qualquer regulamentação ou validação do que veiculam, os portais sobre saúde trazem também os riscos da informação enganosa, ou de seu mau uso, uma vez que, na falta de uma base teórica e de experiência prática, nem sempre é possível ao paciente lidar positivamente com os dados obtidos. Assim, sua atitude participativa pode vir a se transformar em confrontação e/ou autossuficiência, colocando em risco a relação médico-paciente e, consequentemente, a adesão ao tratamento...

The use of the internet to obtain health information has led to generally favorable reviews by patients and doctors in inquiries about it. However, when paying closer attention one is led to realize that not all professionals ratify these reviews or share the optimism with which this variable is addressed. This article aimed to align its ramifications in the patient-physician relationship, seeking a counterpoint between the facilitating and challenging aspects inherent to this inclusion, focusing, as well, the potential risks to adherence to treatment. Regarding the expansion of the use of internet as a source of health information accessible to both physicians and lay people, basic questions were launched: who consults health websites, why and when does he/she do it, and what are the repercussions of this action on the physician and also on his/her relationship with the patient? Patients and physicians benefit from the use of the internet. The former acquires safety and ability to participate in treatment; the latter gets easily available updated knowledge. However, disregarding regulations or validation about what they convey, health websites also bring the risks of misleading information, or of its misuse, since when there is lack of a theoretical basis and practical experience, not always can the patient deal positively with the obtained data. Thus, patient's participatory attitude may turn into confrontation and/or self-reliance, putting patient-physician relationship and, consequently, adherence to treatment at risk...