Keratosis punctata of palmar creases has been considered an uncommon variant of keratosis punctata, which itself is considered rare condition. Clinically our case, 32-year-old seaman, shows cup-shaped depression of the epidermis of varying size, from 1-3mrn in diameter, limited to the large flexor creases of the palms and digit. The histologic features are hyperkeratotic and slight acanthotic central epidermal depression without parakeratosis and loss of granular layer. A sparse mononuclear infilterate are seen arround the capillaries in the dermal papillas. No relationship to arsenical agents, syphilis, or genetic factors can be ascertained by history.
Adult ; Capillaries ; Depression ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Keratosis* ; Parakeratosis ; Syphilis

BACKGROUND: Calcinosis cutis may occur when connective tissue is abnormal (dystrophic), or where calcium or phosphate levels in the blood are high(metastatic); alternatively, there may be no obvious underlying cause(idiopathic). The exact incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is not well-kniown and the pathomechanism of it remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to analyze the incidence, clinical and histopathological features of calcinosis cutis. METHODS: We studied 72 patients with calcinosis cutis who visited our department between January 1985 and December 1996. The patients were classified into 3 types (dystrophic, metastatic, and idiopathic) and were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. Results : The results were summerized as follows; 1. There were 60 cases(83.3%) and 12 cases(16.7%) of the dystrophic and idiopathic types, respectively but the metastatic type was not observed. The frequency of dystrophic calcification in individual disorders was 88.2% in pseudoxanthoma elasticum, 66.7% in trichilemmal cyst and dermatomyositis, and 64.6% in pilomatrichoma. 2. In the idiopathic type, it was common in females aged over 50 years and the mean duration of lesions was 2.8+/-2.0 years. The predilection site was the flank(5 cases) and most of the lesions(7 cases) showed skin-colored nodules 3. Histopathologically, calcified material of the idiopathic type was located predominently in the dermis(10 cases) and was present as large masses surrounded by a foreign body reaction. 4. In the dystrophic type, calcified deposits were noted predominently within the shadow cells of pilomatricoma, in the degenerated elastic fibers of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, and in the keratinized area of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, trichilemmal cyst, and epidermal cyst. Foreign body reactions with giant cells and mononuclear cell infiltrations were often found around large deposits of calcium. Conclusion : The incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is relatively low, but a variety of disorders can be associated with cutaneous calcification. Therefore, dermatologists should be familiar with the different forms of cutaneous calcification and the dermatoses that manifest them.
Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Connective Tissue ; Dermatomyositis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pilomatrixoma ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Sweet Syndrome* ; Ulcer*

We report a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a 63-year-old female with a 1-year history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. She had black necrotic ulcers on the hard palate, bloody nasal discharge, swelling of the left side of her face, left blepharoptosis, proptosis, and conjunctival injection. Histopathological examination of the palatal lesion showed large, nonseptate, right-angled branching fungal hyphae in the dermis, and Rhizopus species was isolated on Sabouraud's agar media. The patient was treated with a combination of amphotericin B and surgical debridements but died of asphyxia one month after admission. This is a relatively uncommon, opportunistic infection occurring in a diabetic woman, and only several cases are reported in the Korean literature up to date.
Agar ; Amphotericin B ; Asphyxia ; Blepharoptosis ; Debridement ; Dermis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis* ; Opportunistic Infections ; Palate, Hard ; Rhizopus ; Ulcer

Angioid streaks are a peculiar spoke-like distribution of dark-colored broad lines in the retinaradiating out from the optic nerve in a fashion similiar to the branching of blood vessels. It is thought to be due to breaks in the elastic lamina of Bruch's membrane. Their colour may be reddish-brown. dark-brown, grey or even in parts white. During a ophthalmoscopic examination they may be mistaken for retinal vessels. The lesion, however, lies beneath the retinal and above the choroidal vessels. Angioid streaks are most commonly seen in pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Paget's disease of bone and sickle cell anemia. Angioid streaks with pseudoxanthoma elasticum have been reported in all races and in all decades of life. The peak age lies between 30 and 50. Pseudoxnnthoma elasticum is a dermatologic condition characterized by changes in the elastic tissue of the skin. A 21 year old Korean lady with pseudoxanthoma e!asticum has been found to have angioid streaks in her both fundi.
Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Angioid Streaks* ; Blood Vessels ; Bruch Membrane ; Choroid ; Continental Population Groups ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Optic Nerve ; Osteitis Deformans ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum* ; Retina* ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde ; Skin ; Young Adult

Neoplasms are the most common among the diseases of the lacrimal gland. Mixed tumor is the commonest tumor of the lacrimal gland. And adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common in malignancy of lacrimal gland. Adenoid cystic carcinoma appears past middle life and has no sexual prevalence. The first important clinical sign is proptosis with eventual displacement of the globe downwards and inwards. Limitation of ocular movements may be noted to up and out. Often the vision is not greatly disturbed. The fundus is usually normal. The adenoid cystic carcinoma is seldom rapidly fatal. Metastasis may occur in the regional lymph nodes the pre-auricular, cervical and mediastinal-and occasionally general dissemination may appear in other organs as the liver and lungs. Intracranial spread of the tumor results in death. The treatment of choice is surgical removal of the tumor. However, if they are not completely removed, it will recur repeatedly. It is important to save the eyeball when the tumor can not be removed completely. Radiation therapy may be tried preoperatively and post-operatively, but response to radiation therapy is generally unsatisfactory. A 27 year old Korean woman has been healthy until October, 1975, when she began to complain of painful progressive exophthalmos (O.D.). On physical examination, she was found to have a tender and hard mass in superior and temporal region of right orbit. Her visual acuity was 20/50(O.D.) and 20/20 (O.S.). There were no other abnormalities in her both eyes. On July 15, 1976, the surgical removal of the tumor was followed by radiation therapy. The tumor was reported to be a adenoid cystic carcinoma, She has been in good health for about 2 years since she received operation.
Adenoids* ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus* ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orbit ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pityriasis* ; Tinea Versicolor* ; Treatment Outcome*

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis(CRP) is still unknown, although many theories have been suggested. It is stressed that abnormal host response to colonization of pityrosporum orbiculare might play a role in the pathogenesis of CRP, but is not completely understood. Frequently, we have observed bacterial colonies in the stratum corneum and, especially, within the hair follicles from biopsy specimens of patients with CRP. In addition, successful treatment for CRP with minocycline, a derivative of tetracyclines, has been reported continuously. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document the possible association of bacterial factors in the pathogenesis of CRP and to elucidate the effectiveness of minocycline. METHODS: We performed Brown and Brenn gram staining in 12 biopsy specimens, bacterial cultures, identification of microorganisms and antibiotics sensitivity testing including minocycline. We administered oral minocycline with an initial dose of 100mg per day for 1 to 3 months and a maintenance dose 50mg per day for I to 2 months, then evaluated the response of treatment. RESULTS: 1. On Brown and Brenn staining, the gram positive bacterial colonies that stained dark bluish or nearly black were observed within the infundibulum of hair follicles in 10 out of 12 biopsy specimens(83.3%) and on the keratotic invagination of stratum corneum in 11 out of 12 biopsy specimens(91.7%). 2. Histological features of regions where bacterial colonies were observed showed, hyperkeratosis and keratotic invagination on the stratum corneum in all cases. Hyperkeratosis(66.7%), parakeratosis(16.7%), inflammatory cell infiltration(25.0%), perifollicular fibrosis(33.3%), and abnormal keratin in sebaceous ducts(50.0%) were shown in hair follicles. 3. In anaerobic cultures, no bacteria was grown. In aerobic cultures, staphylococcus species were identified in 6 cases, streptococcus viridans in one case, sternotrophomonas maltophilia in one case. In the susceptibiliity test, minocycline was sensitive in 7 from 8 cases. 4. The therapeutic response to minocycline was observed within one month in all cases, and the time to clear the lesions was 1/2 month in 2 cases, 1 month in 4 cases, 2 months in 5 cases, 3 months in one case, respectively. CONCLUSION: Form these results, we suggest that bacterial factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRP and that the action mechanism of minocycline in the treatment of CRP may be due to antibacterial effects.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria* ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Minocycline ; Papilloma* ; Staphylococcus ; Tetracyclines ; Viridans Streptococci

BACKGROUND: It seems that herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus and its incidence is increasing. The reactivation of the varicella zoster virus is thought to be associated with the disturbance of the state of immunity in patients with herpes zoster. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the state of immunity in patients with herpes zoster in its acute phase(less than 7 days). METHODS: 1. Thirty patients with acute phase herpes zoster matched by age and sex against a control group, were checked for Helper/Inducer T cell(CD4), Suppressor/Cytotoxic T cell(CD8), NK cell, B cell and activated T cell by three color flow cytometric analysis. 2. Forty patients with herpes zoster measured delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity by means of Multitest' CMI. 3. Thirty patients with herpes zoster measured Ig G, M, A by means of N-antisera method.
Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral* ; Incidence ; Killer Cells, Natural

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