Although uterine arterovenous malformation(AVM) is a rare cause of menorrhagia or postmenopausal bleeding, it is important to consider that curettage may precipitate life-threatening hemorrhage and therefore it is contraindicated when AVM is suspected. Special investigations such as hysteroscopy, Doppler flow ultrasound and angiography are important diagnostic tools, and transarterial embolization(TAE) has replaced hysterectomy as the treatment of choice in women who wish to retain their fertility. But due to the high incidence of collateral vessels, recurrence of the vascular malformation after TAE is common. We have experienced two cases of AVM, one of which was managed by TAE in combination with surgical arterial ligation.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Curettage ; Female ; Fertility ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysteroscopy ; Incidence ; Ligation* ; Menorrhagia ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Malformations

Tardive dyskinesia(TD) is a serious side effect of long-term treatment with neuroleptic medications. To investigate if glutamatergic hyperfunction is associated with TD, effect of MK-801 on the prevention and treatment of TD was studied using a rat model, i.e., vacuous chewing movements(VCM). When comparing VCM scores of Group I(haldol decanoate+MK-801) with that of Group II(hadol decanoate+phosphate buffer saline), late measured VCM scores of former were significantly lower than that of latter, meaning that MK-801 is effective in the prevention of VCM. Furthermore, when MK-801 is also effective in the treatment of VCM. From the above results, it is suggested that glutamatergic hyperfunction might be involved in the development of TD and MK801 could be effective in the prevention and treatment of it.
Dizocilpine Maleate* ; Mastication ; Models, Animal ; Movement Disorders*

Benign pigmented lesions derived from dermal melanocytes include the Mongolian spot, the nevi of Ota and Ito, and the blue nevus. The nevus of Ito differs from the nevus of Ota by its location in the supraclavicular, scapular and deltoid regions. It occurs rarely in association with bilateral nevus of Ota. We present a 70 years old male, showing extensive involvement of dermal melanocytic nevi, so called bilateral nevus of Ota associated with bilateral nevus of Ito.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Blue ; Nevus, Pigmented

BACKGROUND: Pilomatricoma is a cystic neoplasm with differentiation toward hair cortex cells. Although it is characterized by several features such as cellular constitiuents, stromal change and inflammation, it is difficult to interpret the histopathogenesis of the lesions, and there is no comprehensive understanding about the evolution of the tumor. OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical and histopathologic feature of pilomatricoma and to suggest the growth pattern and evolutional stage of this tumor. METHOD: Thirty-eight cases with pilomatricoma in 34 patients who had visited Korea University Hospital during the last 10 years have been collected. We studied the clinical and histopathological characteristics of the cases and tried to classify evolutional stages of them and to elucidate the growth pattern. RESULTS: Most of the tumors were solitary lesions except four patients, who showed two lesions simultaneously. The male to female ratio was 1:1.1. The average age was 16.25 years (9months to 43 years) and 35 cases(92%) were developed in the patients younger than 30 years old. The predilection sites were arm(61%), face(18.2%), neck(13%), thigh(5.2%), shoulder(2.6%) in order. The duration of lesions was from 10 days to 3 years in known cases, with mean duration of 9.8months. Histopathologically tumor size was from 0.3cm to 1.9cm in diameter, with average value of 0.89cm. 29 cases showed inflammatory reaction variably in its severity involving giant cells. Calcification was observed in 22 cases and two of them showed ossification. According to four stage system of previous study, we categorized our cases into the 3 early stage, 8 fully developed stage, 15 early regressive stage, and 12 late regressive stage. Peripheral basaloid epithelium surrounding the tumor was found in 17 cases. 3 cases were surrounded by epithelium perfectly, and 5cases were surrounded by half or more. CONCLUSION: Pilomatricoma is not a cyst but a cystic neoplasm that consists principally of rapidly growing basaloid cells that form well-defined lobular aggregations of diverse sizes and shapes. It shows variable features with differentiation. Since previous four staging system were not clearly differentiated in each stage, we divided pilomatricoma into three phases, developing phase, proliferative phase and regressive phase, according to the constituents of basaloid cells in the periphery.
Adult ; Epithelium ; Female ; Giant Cells ; Hair ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Male ; Pilomatrixoma*

Pseudocyst of the scalp is described in the Japanese literature as a skin-colored cystic tumor localized on the forehead, whereas alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp are described in the French literature as asymptomatic nodules on the scalp that lack a pseudocyst-like architecture. The etiology of these diseases is unknown, but the lesions are likely due to follicular occlusion. Here, we report a case of pseudocyst of the scalp in a 72-year-old woman. The patient had a dome-shaped painless tumor on her scalp. Histologic examination showed a pseudocyst-like architecture with no true cystic wall. Here, we report a case of pseudocyst of the scalp and summarize the characteristic features of both pseudocyst of the scalp and alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Scalp

Ectopic ossification refers to the process of new bone formation in sites that normally do not ossify. The auricle is composed of elastic cartilage, and hence is a pliable structure. Auricular ossification is a rare condition that might be caused by injurious processes, including frostbite, physical trauma, and inflammation as well as processes related to metabolic or endocrine disorders. Here, we report a case of unilateral auricular ossification in a 53-year-old Korean man who had previously rubbed his ear repeatedly with his hand.
Cartilage ; Ear ; Elastic Cartilage ; Frostbite ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteogenesis

BACKGROUND: Moisturizers are commonly used for the management of many skin problems and sometimes they are used to maintain healthy skin. Previous studies on the short-term treatment with moisturizers have shown that moisturizers can weaken or strengthen the skin barrier function. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of long-term treatment with a physiologic lipid-containing moisturizer on the barrier function of normal skin. METHODS: 39 healthy volunteers applied the moisturizer on one forearm 3 times daily for 8 weeks and then they were followed-up for the next 2 weeks (the regression period). No moisturizer was used on the other forearm as a control. The TEWL, skin capacitance and skin lipid content were evaluated weekly during the 8 weeks treatment period and then daily during 2 weeks of the regression period. RESULTS: During the treatment period, the skin capacitance and lipid content values of the treated side were significantly higher than that of the control side, and the TEWL values of the treated side were significantly lower than that of the control side. During the regression period, all the values of the treated side steadily became closer to those of the control side. These results suggest that long term treatment with moisturizer does not deteriorate the skin barrier function. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with moisturizer containing physiologic lipid not only enhances the normal skin barrier, it does not suppress the endogenous lipid synthesis of the skin.
Forearm ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Moisturizers are commonly used for the management of many skin problems and sometimes they are used to maintain healthy skin. Previous studies on the short-term treatment with moisturizers have shown that moisturizers can weaken or strengthen the skin barrier function. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of long-term treatment with a physiologic lipid-containing moisturizer on the barrier function of normal skin. METHODS: 39 healthy volunteers applied the moisturizer on one forearm 3 times daily for 8 weeks and then they were followed-up for the next 2 weeks (the regression period). No moisturizer was used on the other forearm as a control. The TEWL, skin capacitance and skin lipid content were evaluated weekly during the 8 weeks treatment period and then daily during 2 weeks of the regression period. RESULTS: During the treatment period, the skin capacitance and lipid content values of the treated side were significantly higher than that of the control side, and the TEWL values of the treated side were significantly lower than that of the control side. During the regression period, all the values of the treated side steadily became closer to those of the control side. These results suggest that long term treatment with moisturizer does not deteriorate the skin barrier function. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with moisturizer containing physiologic lipid not only enhances the normal skin barrier, it does not suppress the endogenous lipid synthesis of the skin.
Forearm ; Skin

A 28-year-old Asian male was referred for dermatologic evaluation of diffuse bluish-red maculopapules in the lower trunk and genital regions. There was no family history, and with the exception of dispersed skin lesions and hypohidrosis, no other complaints or symptoms were present. Histological evaluation of the skin lesions revealed angiokeratomas. When this combination of clinical and histological findings is observed, Fabry disease is suspected. Biochemical examination performed for definitive diagnosis did not show any activity of the alpha-galactosidase A enzyme. Through identification of a c.182_183ins(GA) mutation of the GLA gene, Fabry disease was diagnosed. However, there was no particular abnormal finding with regard to the evaluation of non-cutaneous manifestations, a symptom that can occur in the progress of this disease. We reported a case of Fabry disease, restricted to the dermatologic presentation, involving a novel frameshift mutation in the GLA gene.
alpha-Galactosidase ; Angiokeratoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Fabry Disease ; Frameshift Mutation ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Male ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations

A 28-year-old Asian male was referred for dermatologic evaluation of diffuse bluish-red maculopapules in the lower trunk and genital regions. There was no family history, and with the exception of dispersed skin lesions and hypohidrosis, no other complaints or symptoms were present. Histological evaluation of the skin lesions revealed angiokeratomas. When this combination of clinical and histological findings is observed, Fabry disease is suspected. Biochemical examination performed for definitive diagnosis did not show any activity of the alpha-galactosidase A enzyme. Through identification of a c.182_183ins(GA) mutation of the GLA gene, Fabry disease was diagnosed. However, there was no particular abnormal finding with regard to the evaluation of non-cutaneous manifestations, a symptom that can occur in the progress of this disease. We reported a case of Fabry disease, restricted to the dermatologic presentation, involving a novel frameshift mutation in the GLA gene.
alpha-Galactosidase ; Angiokeratoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Fabry Disease ; Frameshift Mutation ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Male ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations