Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis (AMVC) is a type of idiopathic noninflammatory macular atrophy that occurs in young individuals. It is clinically characterized by shallow, sharply demaracated depressions of various shapes. Considering that atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis can be mistaken as scarring and artifact dermatitis, it is important for physicians to distinguish this condition and to diagnose it correctly.
Artifacts ; Atrophy ; Cicatrix ; Depression ; Dermatitis

Deep penetrating nevus is a recently described variant of melanocytic nevi. It's clinical and histopathological features can be confused with malignant melanoma, blue nevus, Spitz nevus, pigmented spindle cell nevus, or congenital melanocytic nevus. Histopathologically, the lesions are characterized by loosely-organized nests of slightly to distinctively pleomorphic pigmented cells which deeply penetrate the reticular dermis and often extend into the subcutis. We report a case of deep penetrating nevus on the right arm of a 21-year-old female.
Arm ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Blue ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Nevus, Spindle Cell ; Young Adult

Sinusoidal hemangioma is a rare variant of deep hemangioma. Clinically it develops in adults, predominantly females, and presents as a painless, bluish, solitary, deep dermal or subcutaneous nodule. Histologically they are characterized by a well-circumscribed lobulated architecture composed of dilated interconnecting, thin-walled vascular channels that frequently show a pseudopapillary pattern and a back-to-back arrangement with scanty intervening stroma. We report an unusual case of sinusoidal hemangioma, which showed polypoid growth on the trunk of a 39-year-old male.
Adult ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Male

Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (BHDS) is an autosomal dominant genodermatosis characterized by cutaneous hair follicle tumors (fibrofolliculoma or trichodiscoma), pulmonary cysts, and increased risk of renal neoplasia. The genetic alteration for BHDS has been mapped to chromosome 17p12q11, and the gene in this region has been cloned and believed to be responsible for the BHDS. Mutations in the BHD gene (also known as FLCN) have been described in the patients with BHDS. We present a case of a 30-yr-old Korean woman with multiple mildly pruritic papules on her face and neck area. The patient had several firm, flesh-colored, dome-shaped, papular lesions measuring between 2 to 5 mm. Except for a history of pneumothorax her medical records were not remarkable. Mutation analysis of the BHD gene was performed, and a novel deletion mutation (p.F519LfsX17 [c.1557delT]) causing truncation of the gene product, folliculin, was found in the exon 14. The actual incidence of BHDS is unknown, but it is most likely underdiagnosed. So it is imperative that doctors recognize the skin lesions of BHDS and institute proper screening to detect other manifestations of the disease. Here, we report a case of BHDS with a novel mutation, which is the first report in Korea.
Adult ; Biopsy ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Estrone/biosynthesis ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Mutation ; Skin Diseases/diagnosis/*genetics ; Syndrome

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is composed of large cells with anaplastic, pleomorphic cytomorphology and the expression of the CD30 antigen by the majority (more than 75%) of tumor cells. Recently some variants of ALCL with extensive inflammatory cell infiltration have been reported. A 34-year-old male presented with multiple tumors over the arm, groin, and legs. The tumors of the right groin showed ulceration and purulent discharge. The biopsy specimens revealed extensive infiltrate of large atypical lymphoid cells with mixed inflammatory cells consisting of numerous eosinophils and neutrophils. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD3, CD4, and CD30. TCR-gamma gene rearrangement was detected. There was no evidence of extracutaneous involvement. We report a case of primary cutaneous ALCL, associated with marked inflammatory cell infiltration. Diagnosis in such cases is challenging because the large atypical lymphoid cells may be easily obscured by the massive infiltrate of eosinophils and neutrophils.
Adult ; Antigens, CD30 ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Eosinophils ; Gene Rearrangement ; Groin ; Humans ; Leg ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Ulcer

There are many kinds of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) such as surgical resection, liver transplantation, chemotherapy, interventional therapy [TACE, ethanol embolization, Immuno -chemoembolization, I131 -lipiodol embolization], thermal therapy, cryotherapy, and radiation therapy. Generally spontaneous remission is not common in HCC, however underlying mechanism of spontaneous remission is uncertain. We report a case of complete remission after one time TACE in ruptured HCC with review of literature about the effect of TACE and spontaneous remission. We conclude that arterial embolization is an effective alternative to surgery for hepatic hemostasis in patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cryotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Ethanol ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Rupture, Spontaneous

Atrophic dermatofibroma is an uncommon variant of dermatofibroma. It lacks the classic clinical features of a dermatofibroma and is often misdiagnosed. Clinically, it is characterized by inward puckering or flat lesions which on palpation become depressed or "sink in" during biopsy. Histologically, it appears similar to dermatofibroma except that it is accompanied by dermal atrophy of more than 50% of the locoregional dermis. We report two cases of dermatofibroma with atrophic features. Dermatologists should consider a diagnosis of atrophic dermatofibroma when evaluating of atrophic, depressed lesions.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Palpation

Idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation is a rare condition characterized by asymptomatic pigmented macules involving the neck, trunk, and proximal portions of the extremities. On histopathologic examination, there was increased pigmentation of the basal layer in otherwise normal epidermis and scattered melanophages in the papillary dermis. We report a case of a 26-year-old woman with idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation involving only the flexural areas of the body. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of flexural hyperpigmented skin lesions.
Acanthosis Nigricans ; Adult ; Dermis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epidermis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Neck ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Genetic ; Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease and its prevalence has recently increased. Epidemiological research for associated factors of AD has recently been reported. However, a large population study on the factors affecting the disease development and progression in childhood AD has not yet been carried out in Suwon. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of AD in elementary school students and the associated factors of the disease development and progression in Suwon. METHODS: This study was carried out among 1,330 elementary school students from April to July, 2009. First, a questionnaire study (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, ISSAC) which covered clinical manifestations, environment, and life style was performed. Then, two dermatologists examined the skin of students with symptoms suspicious of AD and evaluated the severity using the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score. RESULTS: The prevalence of AD among the elementary school students in Suwon as evaluated by questionnaire was 22.9%. However, the prevalence confirmed by two dermatologists was 6.7%. The average EASI score measured by the two dermatologists was 3.52+/-3.05. The most common age of onset was under 2 years, followed by 2~4 years. The two major risk factors of AD showing statistical significance were parental past history of atopic disease and moving to a new residence within a year after birth. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that certain genetic and environmental factors may affect the prevalence of childhood AD in Suwon.
Age of Onset ; Asthma ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Life Style ; Parents ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is widely known to be one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and a drug that can easily be obtained, and it has been shown to attenuate the pain responses induced by various causes in animal pain models. Thus, this experiment was conducted to assess the antinociceptive effects of vitamin E by comparing intraperitoneal and intrathecal injections in rats subjected to the formalin test. METHODS: After the intraperitoneal and intrathecal injections of vitamin E were carried out, respectively (IP: 500 mg/kg, 1 g/kg, and 2 g/kg, IT: 3 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg), the formalin test was perfumed. As soon as 5% formalin was injected into left hind paw, the number of flinches induced by pain was measured at 5-minute intervals for 1 hour. RESULTS: Formalin injected into the left hind paw induced biphasic nociceptive behavior in all animals. Intraperitoneal injection of vitamin E diminished the nociceptive behavior in a dose-dependent manner during the early and late phase. Intrathecal vitamin E diminished nociceptive behavior dose dependently during the late phase but showed no significant difference in the early phase. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E attenuated acute nociception when it was injected systemically, while both systemic and intrathecal injection produced analgesia in a rat model of formalin-induced hyperalgesia.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Formaldehyde ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Injections, Spinal ; Nociception ; Pain Measurement ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins