No abstract available.
Cicatrix* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous*

Alopecia areata (AA) is a recurrent, nonscarring type of hair loss. Although it is a medically benign condition, AA can cause great emotional distress to affected patients and their family. At this time, there are many treatments that have varying efficacies but there is no reliable cure. Topical anthralin treatment of AA has been found to be effective by some researchers. We experienced two cases of AA improved by topical anthralin therapy without serious side effects. Anthralin is much less expensive than most other topical therapies for AA and relatively well tolerated. In our experience, it is more effective in eliciting a cosmetic response than other topical treatments. Anthralin appears to be a reasonable therapeutic option for AA.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Anthralin* ; Hair ; Humans

Cutaneous involvement has been reported in all types of malignant plasma cell disorders including multiple myeloma, solitary myeloma of bone, plasma cell leukemia, and extramedullary plasmacytoma. But metastatic plasmacytomas in the skin are rare in multiple myeloma and extramedullary plasmacytoma. If skin tumors appear during the course of multiple myeloma, these should be interpreted as a sign of poor prognosis. Treatment of patients with resistant multiple myeloma is challenging. Thalidomide has recently shown antitumor activity in patients with refractory myeloma. Until the introduction of thalidomide, no drugs other than cytotoxic agents and glucocorticoids had shown antitumor activity to cutaneous plasmacytoma. We recently performed a clinicopathologic study of a patient with cutaneous involvement of multiple myeloma and reported our result with thalidomide therapy in this patient.
Cytotoxins ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Leukemia, Plasma Cell ; Multiple Myeloma ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmacytoma* ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Thalidomide*

BACKGROUND: Parapsoriasis described a group of cutaneous disease that can be characterized by scaly patches or slightly elevated plaques that have a resemblance to psoriasis, hence the nomenclature. Up to now, a uniformly accepted definition of parapsoriasis remains lacking. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathological features of parapsoriasis in Korea. METHODS: The clinical charts, photographs and skin biopsy slides of patients who had been clinically diagnosed as parapsoriasis at the initial visit were reviewed. Then the evaluation of age at onset, sex distribution, disease duration, anatomical distribution, clinical features of the skin lesions, associated symptoms, family history, co-existing disease, and histopathologic features were conducted. Six cases from small plaque parapsoriasis group and four cases from large plaque parapsoriasis group were investigated for the presence of TCR gene rearrangement using a PCR technique. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1: 1.2. The average ages of onset in large plaque type and small plaque type were 44.7 and 32.9 years respectively. 1) According to the clinical classification, 7 (29%) of the patients had large plaque type and 17 (71%) had small plaque type. 2) Many lesions of large plaque parapsoriasis group exhibited varying degrees of epidermal atrophy, fine wrinkles and telangiectasia. 3) Large plaque parapsoriasis showed more histologic changes consisting of epidermal atrophy, exocytosis and atypical lymphocytes. 4) Monoclonal T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was not detected in all of 10 patients with large and small plaque parapsoriasis. CONCLUSION: In our study, some of our findings are in agreement with those already in the literature, whereas others, particularly the male to female ratio and constitutional symptoms, differ. Our results also indicate that there are many clinical and pathological differences between large plaque and small plaque parapsoriasis.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Classification ; Exocytosis ; Female ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor ; Hospital Distribution Systems ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Parapsoriasis* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Psoriasis ; Sex Distribution ; Skin ; Telangiectasis

A bolster, simply defined, is any device used to support or cushion. In surgery, bolsters have been used under sutures to reduce skin and subcutaneous tension. Bolsters function to reduce the potential for necrosis and laceration by distributing the wound closure tension over a broader surface area. Pexing stitich is placed between the mobilized tissue and the deep fascia and periosteum to prevent the secondary motion of closure from disrupting anatomic landmarks and moveable structures. The technique aids in obtaining linear closures, prevents distortion of free margins, prevents tenting across concavities, and fixes the closure line at the junction of cosmetic units. Standard treatment of lipoma commonly includes incision with extrication or elliptical excision. Unfortunately, these treatments often elicit a large scar. Using pressure technique, risk of hemorrhage and infection may be minimized secondary to the decreased degree of invasion. In cosmetically sensitive areas, this technique is an effective and aesthetically pleasing method for removal of lipoma.
Anatomic Landmarks ; Cicatrix ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures* ; Fascia ; Hemorrhage ; Lacerations ; Lipoma ; Necrosis ; Periosteum ; Skin ; Sutures ; Wounds and Injuries

Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis is a chronic ulcerative, usually self-limiting skin disease, and one of the major tropical diseases. This disease is caused by an infection of genus Leishmania, transmitted by a sandfly, and there are some cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Koreans after travelling abroad in endemic areas, such as the Middle East and Africa. We report a case of localized cutaneous leishmania in a 70-year-old native Korean man without history of a trip abroad.
Male ; Humans

Pyoderma gangrenosum is one of the neutrophilic dermatoses, which is usually related to many systemic diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, hematologic diseases, etc. Its typical clinical feature is usually a solitary, painful, margin-elevated ulcer. We herein report a case of myelodysplastic syndrome-related pyoderma gangrenosum, treated with a combination therapy of systemic steroid and topical 0.03% tacrolimus oint.

BACKGROUND: Hypopigmentation is one of the complications developed after laser resurfacing. There have been few data about hypopigmentation developed after Er: YAG laser resurfacing, especially in darker skin. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and histopathologic features of hypopigmentation developed after Er: YAG laser resurfacing. METHODS: One hundred and ninety patients have been included in this study. Ninety seven patients were treated with short pulsed Er: YAG laser, 2mm spot sized handpiece at the setting of 12.5-15.0J/cm2. Fifty two patients were treated with variable pulsed Er: YAG laser, 5mm spot sized handpiece at the setting of 7.0-7.5J/cm2 and 7msec pulse duration. Forty one patients were treated with dual mode Er: YAG laser, 4mm spot sized scanner at the setting of 17.5J/cm2 ablation mode and 3.15J/cm2 coagulation mode. Incidence, time of onset, duration of hypopigmentation were evaluated throughout the medical charts and serially checked photographs. Skin biopsy was performed in four patients at the hypopigmentation site for histopathologic and electron microscopic examinations with informed consents. RESULTS: Hypopigmentation was observed in twenty six patients; eight in short pulsed Er: YAG laser, eight in variable pulsed Er: YAG laser, ten in dual mode Er: YAG laser. According to the time of onset of hypopigmentation, twelve patients developed hypopigmentation within one month, five patients in two months, three patients within three months, three patients within four months, two patients within five months, and one patient within six months. Twenty out of twenty six patients recovered skin coloration within six months, and two patients within twelve months. On the other hand, four patients had persisted hypopigmentation for more than one year. Melanosome appeared to be decreased but melanocytes appeared to be present in normal numbers on the histopathologic and electron microscopic examinations. CONCLUSION: Although hypopigmentation is one of the frequent complicaions of Er: YAG laser resurfacing, it is temporary in most cases. Thermal damage due to long pulse duration of laser seems to be a very important factor in inducing hypopigmentation.
Incidence ; Biopsy

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin lesion. The major aim in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma is the curative treatment, which is best done by Mohs excision of the neoplastic tissue. Despite the effectiveness of surgical excision, non-surgical treatment modalities may be preferred for large tumor size or poor patient performance status. Imiquimod may offer an alternative to surgical excision. Imiquimod is an immune modulator acting as IFN-alpha and other cytokine inducer, stimulating the innate immune response. Imiquimod's anti-tumor effect may be mediated by IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12. At this time, there is no published experience on the treatment of basal cell carcinoma with imiquimod in Korea. We report a case of basal cell carcinoma of the nose successfully treated with topical 5% imiquimod cream.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-12 ; Korea ; Nose* ; Skin

Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing tumor, histologically resembling squamous cell carcinoma. Although it may regress spontaneously, keratoacanthoma is routinely treated by excision. Here we report the successful therapeutic use of imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of keratoacanthoma. The patient was 35-year old Korean man with solitary dome-shaped nodule on his nose. On the basis of clinical and histopathological examination, the diagnosis of solitary keratoacanthoma of mature stage was made. The tumor mass fully regressed under topical treatment with imiquimod 5% cream within 38 days. No recurrence occurred during a six months follow up period. Imiquimod can be an effective non-operative therapeutic modality for keratoacanthoma.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Nose ; Recurrence