BACKGROUND: The clinical and histopathological classification of erythema multiforme(EM) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are difficult due to a lack of clear-cut criteria. In recent studies, some authors suggested that erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome were clinically and histopathologically different disorders. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the clinicopathological characteristics of the EM and SJS and to suggest specific findings for differentiating between the two diseases. METHODS: Fifty four patients with EM and SJS diagnosed in the Department of Dermatology of Dong-San Hcepita1 from January 1987 through to December 1996 were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows. l. In view of causal factors, 54 cases were classified as drug-induced (n=22, 41%), herpes-induced (n=16, 30%), tuberculosis (n= 2, 3%), pneumonia (n=l, 2%), unknown (n=13, 24%). 2. Fifty four cases were clinically classified as SJS (n= 29, 54%), EM minor (n=-15, 2S%) and EM major (n = 10, 18%). 3. Erythema multiforme was found to be more related to herpes (13 of 25 cases) than to drugs (3 of 25 cases), while SJS was more related to drugs (19 of 29 cases) than to herpes (3 of 29 cases). 4. Varying degrees of necroti changes of keratinocytes were found in all the cases. The severity of degree or extent of necrosis was higher in patients with SJS than EM. 5. In demial changes, EM showed differences from SJS by having a denser and deeper lymphocytic infiltrate, and increased amount of extravasated erythrocytes. CONCLUSION: Taken together, although our findings could not provide a defmite clue to determine whether EM and SJS are different distinet entities or not, this study may be useful to differentiate and to understand the pathogenesis of EM and SJS. A prospective large scaled study should be conducted to definitively characterize these entities.
Classification ; Dermatology ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Necrosis ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Stomach Neoplasms* ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa(CPAN) is a benign form of rare vasculitis of small and medium-size arteries with a recurrent but benign course without systemic involvement. We experienced a 61-year-old male who had two months history of multiple deep-purpurish livedo reticularis on both lower legs. Noncutaneous manifestations including malaise, fever, myalgia, and arthritis were absent. A skin biopsy specimen from the livedo reticularis on the leg showed perivascular and trans-mural neutrophilic and lymphocytic infiltration of medium-sized arteries in the dermal-subcutaneous junction and fibrinoid necrosis of the vessel walls. The patient was treated with colchicine for 2months and showed markded improvement.
Arteries ; Arthritis ; Biopsy ; Colchicine ; Fever ; Humans ; Leg ; Livedo Reticularis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myalgia ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Skin ; Vasculitis

We herein report a case of therapy-resistant dermatomyositis treated with oral prednisolone and chlorambucil combination therapy. Concurrently, she showed cervical carcinoma in situ(CIS). Initially, we started to treat her with combination oral prednisolone, intramuscular methotrexate, hydroxychloroquin, and removal of cervical CIS. However, our patient failed to respond to these regimens. Thus, we had have another combination treatment of oral prednisolone and chlorambucil. After the treatment of this combination regimen, her recalcitrant dermatomyositis improved dramatically without recurrence. There were no significant adverse side effects with chlorambucil therapy.
Chlorambucil* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Ciprofloxacin* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

No abstract available.
Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute*

No abstract available.
Alcoholism* ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Prevalence*

Krukenberg tumor, which can account for 30-40% of metastatic cancers to the ovaries, arises in the ovarian stroma and is usually metastatic from the gastrointestinal tract, especially from the stomach. The pathognomonic feature is the presence of signet ring cells, which may be arranged in acini or appear as individual cells. We experienced a Krukenberg tumor which was bilateral and associated with left ovarian dermoid cyst. This patient was treated for a primary gastric carcinoma(Stage II) about 3 years ago. After bilateral salpingoophorectomy, she received adjuvant chemotherapy. But, she died about fow months after operation.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Dermoid Cyst* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Ovary ; Stomach

The second case of this serial reports under the title of unusual cutaneous manifestations of connective tissue diseases is a woman with primary idiopathic dermatomyositis who developed cutaneous ulcerations on her arms and legs, which is thought to b a rare manifestation of adult dermatomyositis. These multiple ulcerations are about bean sized, polymorphous, and grouped on the poikilodermatous lesional skin. In this patient these ulcerative lesions became regressive and healed with disfiguring scars after the activity of the disease has controlled by prednisolone and methotrexate.
Adult ; Arm ; Cicatrix ; Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Methotrexate ; Prednisolone ; Skin ; Ulcer*

No abstract available.
Mortality*