Cutaneous horn is a clinical description for a cohesive mass of cornified material protruding from the surface of the skin. These lesions may arise from a bulging erythematous base, and their shape is usually described as conical. Such lesions generally occur on sun exposed areas such as the face, ear or the dorsum of the hand. Cutaneous horn is not a pathological diagnosis and a variety of primary underlying processes can cause this lesion. We report an 85-year-old female who presented with a bean-sized, hyperkeratotic nodule on the right lower leg. Clinical and histopathologic examination confirmed the nodule to be squamous cell carcinoma presenting as cutaneous horn.
Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Female ; Hand ; Horns* ; Humans ; Leg ; Skin ; Solar System

Liposarcoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor that occurs most commonly in the soft tissue of the extremities. It develops deeply in the intramuscular fatty tissue and consists of lipoblasts. We experienced a case of well-differentiated liposarcoma on the thigh of a 48-year-old female, who presented with a skin-colored, child fist-sized mass. Liposarcoma is rare in the dermatologic field, so we herein report a case of well-differentiated liposarcoma.
Adipose Tissue ; Child ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Liposarcoma* ; Middle Aged ; Thigh

Clear cell sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor representing about 1% of soft tissue tumors. It usually presents in the distal extremities of young adults, frequently attached to tendons or aponeuroses. This slowly progressive tumor tends to recur and results in eventual development of metastatic growth. Early recognition of the disease and prompt wide excision of tumor are essential to get a favorable outcome. We report a rare case of clear cell sarcoma in a 57 year-old female who presented with an erythematous hard nodule on her abdomen.
Abdomen ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; Tendons ; Young Adult

A patient with long-standing urticaria pigmentosa presented with a pea-sized reddish to purplish papule on the posterior part of the right ear. Histopathologic examination revealed numerous dilated vascular structures in the upper dermis and mast cell infiltrations throughout the whole dermis, consistent with combined mastocytoma-hemangioma. The mast cells were strongly positive with Giemsa stain.
Azure Stains ; Dermis ; Ear ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytoma ; Urticaria ; Urticaria Pigmentosa

BACKGROUND: The astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was cloned as a novel HIV-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced transcript from primary human fetal astrocytes. It has been reported that the AEG-1 expression is elevated in subsets of breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma cells, and AEG-1 cooperates with Ha-ras to promote the transformation of immortalized melanocytes. AEG-1 is thought to play a role in promoting cancer development and/or its maintenance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether AEG-1 is related to the pathogenesis of melanoma and other melanocytic lesions. METHODS: The nine biopsy specimens each of melanoma, dysplastic nevus, Spitz nevus and compound nevus were studied using immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of AEG-1 were evaluated using an immunostaining-intensity-distribution index. RESULTS: The expression of AEG-1 was significantly higher in the melanoma and dysplastic nevus than in the compound nevus. The expression was also significantly higher in the melanoma than in the Spitz nevus. CONCLUSION: AEG-1 may be related to the pathogenesis of both dysplastic nevus and melanoma, but it may not be related to Spitz nevus.
Astrocytes ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Clone Cells ; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome ; Glioblastoma ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Necrosis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell

BACKGROUND: The astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was cloned as a novel HIV-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced transcript from primary human fetal astrocytes. It has been reported that the AEG-1 expression is elevated in subsets of breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma cells, and AEG-1 cooperates with Ha-ras to promote the transformation of immortalized melanocytes. AEG-1 is thought to play a role in promoting cancer development and/or its maintenance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether AEG-1 is related to the pathogenesis of melanoma and other melanocytic lesions. METHODS: The nine biopsy specimens each of melanoma, dysplastic nevus, Spitz nevus and compound nevus were studied using immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of AEG-1 were evaluated using an immunostaining-intensity-distribution index. RESULTS: The expression of AEG-1 was significantly higher in the melanoma and dysplastic nevus than in the compound nevus. The expression was also significantly higher in the melanoma than in the Spitz nevus. CONCLUSION: AEG-1 may be related to the pathogenesis of both dysplastic nevus and melanoma, but it may not be related to Spitz nevus.
Astrocytes ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Clone Cells ; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome ; Glioblastoma ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Necrosis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) is a broad concept that encompasses all aspects of an individual's existence. Acne is a common inflammatory dermatosis which most frequently affects the face, and produces significant psychological and physical scarring. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare QOL in patients with acne and healthy controls by using the WHO QOL Scale, and to assess QOL of patients with acne by using the generic (WHO Quality of life scale), dermatology-specific (Skindex-29) and acne-specific (APSEA) questionnaires. The relationship between clinical characteristics and QOL were explored. Additionally, financial values which patients attach to the treatment for their acne were determined. METHODS: 170 acne patients and 41 healthy controls were recruited in this study and completed the WHO QOL- BREF Scale. Total scores and scores of domains of the WHO QOL Scale in the two groups were compared. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed to examine the relationship between the quality of life and the clinical characteristics of patients with acne. RESULTS: Total score of WHO QOL scale in patients with acne were decreased compared to those in healthy controls. Clinical characteristics, including the severity of depression and anxiety, disease duration, clinical severity and self-reported severity (SRS), showed significant correlation with QOL. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the severity of depression and anxiety, and SRS were factors directly affecting the QOL in the patients with acne. As for financial aspects, 27.6% of patients would pay 100,000~500,000 won for acne treatment, but 33.5% of patients answered they would not pay when cost of treatment exceeded 100,000 won. CONCLUSION: QOL in patients with acne was poorer than that of healthy controls. The association between QOL and SRS was stronger than QOL and clinical severity. The severity of depression and anxiety was the most important predictor on QOL.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Anxiety ; Cicatrix ; Depression ; Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Skin Diseases

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare, severe dermatologic disorder that is similar to a type of pustular psoriasis that predominantly occurs during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. This condition usually resolves after delivery and it rarely continues until the postpartum period. Systemic corticosteroids have proven to be the drug of choice for the management of impetigo herpetiformis. In the postpartum period, oral retinoids such as isotretinoin, etretinate and acitretin can be used to control impetigo herpetiformis, but their side effect such as teratogenicity is a big issue to women of child-bearing age. We report here on a case of impetigo herpetiformis in a 28-year-old woman who did not respond to oral corticosteroids, but she was treated successfully with cyclosporine. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of impetigo herpetiformis treated with cyclosporine in the Korean medical literature.
Acitretin ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Cyclosporine ; Etretinate ; Female ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Isotretinoin ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Psoriasis ; Retinoids

Milia en plaque (MEP) is an unusual and rare variant of milia characterized by tiny papules overlying an erythematous plaque. The majority of cases have been described as occurring around the ears. The histopathologic finding is consistent with milia. Despite its benign nature and lack of symptoms, MEP raises cosmetic concerns. We report a case of MEP occurring on the left 3rd finger, an unusual location, in a 2-year-old girl.
Cosmetics ; Ear ; Fingers ; Preschool Child

Pilar sheath acanthoma is a rare, benign follicular hamartoma commonly affecting middle-aged and elderly individuals. It is characterized by a small, solitary, skin-colored papule situated on the head and neck, particularly around the upper lip. The lesion shares some features with trichofolliculoma and dilated pore of Winer, so it should be differentiated from these. Cytokeratin (CK) is a useful marker for studying the origin of epithelial tumors. We report a case of pilar sheath acanthoma which originated from outer root sheath using CK.
Acanthoma ; Aged ; Follicular Cyst ; Hamartoma ; Head ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lip ; Neck ; Neoplasms, Basal Cell ; Skin Neoplasms