BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides(MF) is a form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma with clonal differentiation of helpr' T cell. It has a patch, plaque, and tumor stage. But pathogenetic factors controlling the development and progression of MF are still unclear. Apoptosis plays a major role in developmental biology and homeostasis. The bcl-2 oncogene prolongs ce11 life by inhibiting apoptosis. The mutant pS3 gene induces apoptosis indirectly. Ki-67 antigen is the cell proliferation marker. Recently, it has been shown that the relationships among them are important in the tumorigenesis of the various tumors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of these genes and apoptotic rate and clarify the relationship among them in the development and progression of MF. METHODS: The eighteen specimens from 8 patients with MF and 10 specimens from benign lymphocytic infiltrating diseases including 5 lichen planus, 3 lupus erythematosus, and 2 contact dermatitis were included. We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using monoclonal antibodies including bc1-2, p~53, and Ki-67(MIB1). We used ApoptaqTM(Oncor) in situ labelling kit for detecting apoptotic cell.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Developmental Biology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Lichen Planus ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Oncogenes

No abstract available.
Snake Bites* ; Snakes*

A 26-year-old Korean man had an erythematous scaly plaque on his right thigh for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with chronic eczema and treated with topical steroid, but no clinical improvement was obtained for 15 years. Laboratory studies including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, liver and renal function test, and peripheral blood smear were normal. A biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epidermis. These cells had a perinuclear halo and showed a Pautrier's microabscess like configuration. In the dermis, there was a band like infiltration of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of the epidermis were negative for leukocyte common antigen(CD45) and positive for Pan T cell(CD45RO). He was treated with topical PUVA twice a week for twelve weeks. Clinical and pathological improvements were obtained. We propose PUVA may be a useful therapeutic modality to treat Woringer Kolopp disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Dermis ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thigh ; Urinalysis

Kerion celsi is an inflammatory type of tinea capitis, which occurs chiefly in children between the ages of 4 and 14 years. We report a case of kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton(T.) mentagrophytes in 69 year-old man, who showed a 8x8 cm sized, erythematous boggy mass with pustules and crusts on the right occipital scalp. Cultures from scalp lesion and infected hair on Sabouraud dextrose agar media showed T. mentagrophytes. Histopathologic findings showed inflammatory cell infiltration in entire dermis and many spores around the hair shaft. The skin lesion was successfully treated with terbinafine (250 mg/ day) for 8 weeks. This case is reported with three interesting facts: Kerion celsi caused by T. mentagrophytes has been rarely reported in Korean literatures; Kerion celsi is occuring in an aged man with decreased cellular immunity after chemotherapy; Kerion celsi caused by T. mentagrophytes responded well to oral terbinafine.
Agar ; Aged ; Child ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Glucose ; Hair ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Scalp ; Skin ; Spores ; Tinea Capitis* ; Trichophyton*

BACKGROUND: The skin over the lower one third of the nose is less mobile and cannot be easily recruited for the closure of even small defects. In addition, the texture and color of the nose are so unique that neither distant nor nearby skin can always provide a good match. Therefore, when we reconstruct the surgical defect of lower one third of the nose, we must consider the reconstruction method, defect site or size, recurrence of the lesion such as basal cell carcinoma, patient age, general health state, and functional and cosmetic aspects. The bilobed flap is a useful tool for reconstruction of the nose but is occasionally complicated by pincushioning effect or trapdoor deformity. OBJECTIVE: The propose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a geometric design of bilobed flap for use in reconstructing defect on the lower one third of the nose. METHODS: From Februrary 1999 to March 2001, we reconstructed defects on the lower one third of the nose after Mohs surgery of basal cell carcinoma in 6 patients using the geometrical design of bilobed flap. Patients were reviewed for complications and cosmetic results. RESULTS: Cosmetically acceptable results were seen in all patients. Significant pincushioning and trapdoor deformity were not presented postoperatively in any patients. CONCLUSION: The geometrical design of bilobed flap is an excellent choice for reconstruction of defects of the lower one third of the nose, particularly around the nasal tip, because of the good skin match and low incidence of complication.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mohs Surgery* ; Nose* ; Recurrence ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Many factors have been implicated in the etiology of varicose veins. Among them, the most widely advanced are weakness of the vascular wall due to defective smooth muscle and connective tissue metabolism, dysfunction of the endothelium, valvular incompetence, and hemodynamic stress. However, the etiology remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to analyze the wall structure and composition changes of primary varicose veins of the legs. METHODS: Varicose vein samples were collected from 13 patients having primary varicose veins who underwent ambulatory phlebectomy. Control veins(below the age of 50 years) were collected from 2 patients with no history or clinical evidence of varicose vein. Samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's Trichrome, Van Gieson stains and immunohistochemical stains for collagen type IV, alpha-smooth muscle actin antigen were performed. Tissue samples were examined by light microscopy for comparative histological changes and different components of the varicose vein wall as compared to control veins. RESULTS: In the varicose vein, there was intimal hypertrophy in almost all the sections examined. The thickness of intima varied at different places. There were hyperplasia of smooth muscle cell and collagen in the varicose vein. Collagen type IV exhibited an accumulation especially in the subendothelial region of varicose vein. CONCLUSION: Dilatation and varicosities are not due to deficiency in the vein wall components, but rather to hemodynamic response. Modulation in the extracellular proteins may be the cause for the development of varices.
Actins ; Collagen ; Collagen Type IV ; Coloring Agents ; Connective Tissue ; Dilatation ; Endothelium ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertrophy ; Leg* ; Metabolism ; Microscopy ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

Tufted angioma is an uncommon, slowly-progressive vascular tumor, found typically in infants, young children and sometimes at birth or during adulthood. It shows a characteristic histopathologic finding, the so-called "cannonball" appearance. Various tumors can be developed in the nevus flammeus, such as pyogenic granuloma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, giant proliferative hemangioma and lymphangioma circumscriptum. Tufted angioma can be also accompanied with nevus flammeus and the coexistence of tufted angioma and nevus flammeus is a very rare condition. We report a case of tufted angioma arising within nevus flammeus in the left axilla of a 47 year-old female.
Axilla ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Child ; Female ; Granuloma, Pyogenic ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphangioma ; Middle Aged ; Nevus* ; Parturition ; Port-Wine Stain*

Subcutaneous island pedicle flap is based on the basic principle of V-Y advancement and closure. This advancement flap involves the isolation of a segment of skin as an island disconnected from the peripheral epidermal-dermal attachment. Subcutaneous island pedicle flap offers several distinct advantages over various transposition flap and skin graft. Moreover its design and execution are straightforward, being a conceptual extension of the elliptical excision technique. Four cases of malignant tumors on the face were removed by Mohs surgery, followed by reconstruction of defects with subcutaneous island pedicle flap. In our cases, there were no significant complications and the results were cosmetically acceptable. Subcutaneous island pedicle flap is a simple and satisfactory alternative for the reconstruction of medium-sized defects in the face.
Mohs Surgery ; Skin ; Transplants

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a tumor of intermediate malignancy, characterized by its aggressive local growth and marked propensity to recur after surgical excision. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is most frequently located on the trunk or proximal extremities and rarely occurs on the face. In most cases, the tumor initially occurs as an asymptomatic, indurated plaque that slowly increases in size, and then develops multiple firm nodules. We report a case of a 39-year-old female who presented with a 10-year history of asymptomatic, brownish and hypopigmented plaques on the right side of her upper forehead. They gradually extended downwards and erythematous nodules appeared on the superior border of pre-existing brownish plaques 8 months ago. Histopathological examination of a nodule showed spindle-shaped cells with a storiform pattern in the dermis, and that of the plaques showed a parallel pattern. The tumor cells were stained positive for CD 34 upon immunohistochemical staining.
Adult ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Dermis ; Extremities ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans

Pilomatricoma is a common, benign, adnexal tumor differentiating towards elements of the hair matrix and shaft. The tumor is usually a deep-seated, solitary, firm nodule with overlying normal epidermis. Lymphangiectatic pilomatricoma is a rare variant of pilomatricoma. Clinically it manifests as flaccid, thick-walled bulla with an underlying palpable, hard tumor. Histopathologically, it is a well-circumscribed dermal nodule composed of basophilic cells, shadow cells, and transitional cells. There can also be extraordinary dilatation of lymphatic vessels in the overlying dermis. We report a case of lymphangiectatic pilomatricoma on the left shoulder of 19-year-old girl which occurred after intralesional injection of steroid.
Basophils ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Epidermis ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Shoulder ; Young Adult