BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis of keratoacanthoma(KA) from squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is often difficult, especially when SCC has KA-like features(KA-like SCC). A number of recent studies have been attempted to separate these two entities with the use of immunohistochemical stains. But the results were inconsistent and the studies with KA-like SCC are rarely reported. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the expression patterns of p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen on KA and KA-like SCC using immunohistochemical staining method and to evaluate the usefulness of this method in distinguishing each other. METHODS: We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using monoclonal antibody to p53 protein(PAb1801) and Ki-67 antigen(MIB1) on the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens obtained from 12 patients with KA, 8 patient with KA-like SCC, and 10 patients with well-differentiated SCC. RESULTS: The results were as follows; 1) There was a significant difference in the p53 expression between KA(25%) and SCC group (KA-like SCC=88%, SCC=100%). 2) Mean Ki-67 labeling index was slightly higher for SCC group(KA-like SCC=30.72%, SCC= 31.23%) than for KA(25.30%), but this difference was not statistically significant. 3) In Ki-67 expression, KA showed more pheriperal basal pattern(91%), whereas SCC group showed more diffuse pattern(77%). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that KA and SCC are distinct entities of different nature and that these immunohistochemical staining methods can be useful methods in differentiating KA-like SCC from KA.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Ki-67 Antigen*

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis of keratoacanthoma(KA) from squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is often difficult, especially when SCC has KA-like features(KA-like SCC). A number of recent studies have been attempted to separate these two entities with the use of immunohistochemical stains. But the results were inconsistent and the studies with KA-like SCC are rarely reported. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the expression patterns of p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen on KA and KA-like SCC using immunohistochemical staining method and to evaluate the usefulness of this method in distinguishing each other. METHODS: We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using monoclonal antibody to p53 protein(PAb1801) and Ki-67 antigen(MIB1) on the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens obtained from 12 patients with KA, 8 patient with KA-like SCC, and 10 patients with well-differentiated SCC. RESULTS: The results were as follows; 1) There was a significant difference in the p53 expression between KA(25%) and SCC group (KA-like SCC=88%, SCC=100%). 2) Mean Ki-67 labeling index was slightly higher for SCC group(KA-like SCC=30.72%, SCC= 31.23%) than for KA(25.30%), but this difference was not statistically significant. 3) In Ki-67 expression, KA showed more pheriperal basal pattern(91%), whereas SCC group showed more diffuse pattern(77%). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that KA and SCC are distinct entities of different nature and that these immunohistochemical staining methods can be useful methods in differentiating KA-like SCC from KA.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Ki-67 Antigen*

We report a case of follicular mucinosis which oecurred in a 28-year old female. She had an adult fist-sized erythemlatous indurated infiltrative plaque with an ill-defined border on the left cheek area. Histopatholcigical findings, including mucin stains, showed characteristic reticular degeneration and cystic spece formation in hair follicles and sebaceous glands with mucinous degeneration and infiltration of abundant eosinophiles. The present case should be differentiated from plaque type eosinophilic pustular folliculitis clinically and histologically.
Adult ; Cheek ; Coloring Agents ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Folliculitis ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Mucinosis, Follicular* ; Mucins ; Sebaceous Glands

No abstract available.
Apoptosis

No abstract available.
Aspergillosis*

Pseudallescheria (P.) boydii is a true fungus that is ubiquitous in nature, and has a world-wide distribution. It has been isolated from soil, plant debris, polluted water and sewage. Infection may occur via direct inoculation or inhalation, and usually affects the extremities. It is a common cause of mycetoma characterized by tumefaction, draining sinuses and grains. It has polymorphism due to a complicated life cycle which undergoes teleomorph as well as anamorph stages. Cleistothecia, ascocarp and ascospore may be seen during the teleomorph stages, whereas scedosporium and graphium type may be seen during the anamorph stages. We report a case of P. boydii mycetoma occurring in a 69-year old male. He had multiple nodules with a discharging fistula on a dark red plaque at the dorsum of the right forearm. Cultural isolation for definitive diagnosis showed typical P. boydii. The lesion responded well to daily itraconazole.
Aged ; Edible Grain ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Fistula ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Itraconazole ; Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; Mycetoma* ; Plants ; Pseudallescheria* ; Scedosporium ; Sewage ; Soil

Palisaded, encapsulated neuroma is characterized clinically by a solitary, slowly-growing and dome-shaped papule or nodule, usually accompanied by telangiectasia on the surface, and histopathologically by an encapsulated nodule in the dermis and the palisading arrangement of nuclei. A 57-year-old female patient presented with a 1cm-sized, solitary nodule on the right ala nasi which had been present for about 5 years. The nodule had a tendency to slow growth and it became a polypoid nodule. Telangiectasia was shown on the surface of the lesion. Histopathlogical findings showed a well-defined and encapsulated nodule in the dermis, composed of spindle cells with basophilic and plump nuclei in a palisading fashion. On immunohistochemical staining, the tumor cells of the nodule were positive for S-100 protein, while the capsule of the nodule was negative for S-100 protein. Epithelial membrane antigens were focally positive only on the capsule of the nodule. We report herein a case of palisaded, encapsulated neuroma, one case of which has been reported in Korea.
Basophils ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; Neuroma* ; S100 Proteins ; Telangiectasis

Three anopheline mosquitoes in Korea were studied for their abilities as vectors for Plasmodium vivax. The female mosquitoes of Anopheles lesteri, An. pullus and An. sinensis were allowed to suck malaria patient blood until fully fed, and they were then bred for 2 weeks to develop from malaria parasites to sporozoites. The result from the above confirmed the sporozoites in one An. lesteri of one individual and five An. sinensis of six individuals. We also reconfirmed that An. sinensis was the main vector to transmit malaria and An. lesteri as well as An. sinensis were able to carry Korean malaria parasites. Therefore, we propose that diversified study is needed to manage malaria projects.
Adult ; Animals ; Culicidae/*parasitology/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; *Insect Vectors ; Korea ; Malaria/parasitology/transmission ; Male ; *Plasmodium vivax

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between preoperative De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase [AST]/alanine transaminase [ALT]) and postoperative clinical outcome in patients with upper urinary tract carcinoma (UTUC) who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACH). Materials and Methods: We respectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of 102 patients who underwent RNU and ACH for UTUC. Patients were divided into 2 groups, according to the optimal value of AST/ALT ratio. The effect of the AST/ALT ratio was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression hazard models for patients’ cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Mean survival time was 50.5±41.2 months. Mean age was 61.4±9.7years. Forty-one of the patients (46.5%) were in the high AST/ALT group. According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, the optimal AST/ALT ratio was 1.2. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, the high AST/ALT group showed worse outcomes in OS (p=0.007) and CSS (p=0.011). Using Cox regression models of clinical and pathological parameters to predict OS, high AST/ALT ratio (hazard ratio [HR], 5.428; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.803–16.334; p=0.002), pathological T3 (pT3) or higher (HR, 1.464; 95% CI; 1.156-1.857; p=0.002), and to predict CSS, high AST/ALT ratio (HR, 4.417; 95% CI; 1.545–12.632; p=0.005), and pT3 or higher (HR, 1.475; 95% CI; 1.172–1.904; p=0.002) were determined as independent prognostic factors. Conclusions Pretreatment AST/ALT ratio is a significant independent predictor of CSS and OS in advanced UTUC patients receiving systemic ACH after RNU.

Pagetoid reticulosis(PR) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that has been divided into the localized and disseminated type. There has been ongoing debate about the nature of PR. Some authors have regarded PR as a variant of mycosis fungoides(MF). However recent reported cases suggest that PR may represent a spectrum of lymphoproliferative disorders that may not be related to MF. We report a case of a 65-year-old woman who had an erythematous plaque on the anterior chest, buttock and lower extremities for 2 years. Histologically there was dense infiltrate of predominantly CD8-/CD30+ atypical mononuclear cells in the epidermis that produce a pagetoid appearance. We believe this is the first reported case of disseminated pagetoid reticulosis in the Korean literature.
Aged ; Buttocks ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thorax