Solitary morphea profunda is a rare form of scleroderma, characterized clinically by a solitary sclerotic plaque, and histologically by marked dermal and subcutaneous fibrosis with an inflammatory infiltrate. We describe another case of this entity presented with an ulcerative, indurated plaque on the left iliac crest, which histologically revealed a focal incidental acantholysis in the overlying epidermis and a marked eosinophilic infiltration through the dermis to the sub-cutaneous tissue.
Acantholysis* ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Fibrosis ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Ulcer

Tegafur is a fluoropyrimidine structurally similar to 5-fluorouracil, used in the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal neoplasms. Mucocutaneous side reactions induced by this agent are rare and include photosensitivity of lichenoid and eczematous types, acral erythema, hyperpigmentation and palmoplantar keratoderma. However, to our knowledge, there has been no report of concurrent development of eruptions of two types in a patient. We describe a female patient with breast cancer, presented with combined features of acral erythema and hyperpigmentation due to oral tegafur.
Breast Neoplasms ; Erythema* ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation* ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; Tegafur*

Anetoderma is loose and wrinkled skin lesions that show the characteristic histopathological feature of focal loss of elastic fibers in the dermis. The primary type of anetoderma arises in clinically normal skin and the secondary type replaces the lesions of associated disorders including various infections, infiammatory diseases and tumors. However, anetoderma due to pilomatricoma is very rare. Our patient, a 21-year-old female, presented with a soft and wrinkled skin overlying a firm, pedunculated tumor on her left upper arm. The histopathological examination showed anetodermic cutaneous changes which were associated with the underlying pilomatricoma.
Anetoderma* ; Arm ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Skin ; Young Adult

Acrokeratoelastoidosis of Costa is a rare palmoplantar keratoderma with autosomal dominant inheritance. It is clinically charaeterized by small, firm, yellowish, shiny, translucent papules occumng over the dorsal hands, the knuckles, and the lateral margine of the palms and soles. Histologically, the characteristic features are hyperkeratosis, aeanthosis, and most strikingly, fragmentation of coarse elastic fibers within the dermis. The lesions usually begin in early childhood and progress slowly. We herein report two familial cases of acrokeratoelastoidosis of Costa showing typical clinic1 and histopathological features.
Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Hand ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; Wills*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate whether vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from the neointima showed any different response to antiproliferative agents, such as rapamycin or imatinib mesylate, compared to VSMCs from normal artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intimal hyperplasia was made by carotid balloon in jury in male rats. Neointimal cells at 4 weeks after injury and normal VSMCs were extracted by enzymatic isolation method and cultured. Cell viability and proliferation were tested in VSMCs from injured left carotid artery and uninjured right carotid artery. Tests were repeated with rapamycin, imatinib mesylate or both in various concentrations. RESULTS: Rapamycin decreased cell viability only at a high concentration of 10(-5) M in uninjured VSMCs. Combined drugs decreased cell viability at a lower concentration of 10(-7) M in uninjured VSMCs, and at a higher concentration of 10(-5) M in neointimal cells. Overall, rapamycin showed cytocidal effects at a high concentration of 10(-5) M, whereas imatinib did not. Cell proliferation of neointima was significantly decreased along with the drug concentration. Cell proliferation of uninjured VSMCs was significantly decreased at higher drug concentrations. Combined drug therapy showed synergistic effects. Overall, neointimal cells are more susceptible to the antiproliferative effects of the drugs. CONCLUSION: Neointimal cells from the injured carotid artery are more susceptible to the antiproliferative effect of imatinib and rapamycin. Both drugs can be a used for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia, which could be investigated through further in vivo studies.
Animals ; Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Mesylates* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Neointima ; Rats ; Sirolimus* ; Imatinib Mesylate

BACKGROUND: Partial unilateral lentiginosis (PUL) is a rare pigmentary disorder characterized by grouped multiple lentigines on otherwise normal skin that histologically have the typical features of lentigo. This entity has been only rarely reported in the Korean population. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and histopathologic characteristics, association with other disorders, and differential diagnosis of PUL. METHODS: We reviewed our experiences of thirteen cases of PUL which had been collected in our dermatology clinic during the 6-year period between 1993 and 1998. RESULTS: Twelve patients were female and one was male. In 3 patients the lesions appeared after the age of 20 years. Ten patients had the lesions on the upper part of the body, the neck being the most common location. No bias was shown in terms of the side of the body affected. Cafe-au-lait macules (one to three) were found in six patients, axillary freckles were observed in two. Histopathologic examination of biopsy specimens commonly showed hyperpigmentation of the basal layer, elongation of rete ridges, and an increased number of melanocytes. There ,was no evidence of associated disorders or family history. CONCLUSION: Based on this data, we confirmed that PUL is a benign, idiopathic lentiginosis with no commonly associated abnormalities. Furthermore, we believed that PUL is not uncommon in Korean people.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lentigo ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanosis ; Neck ; Skin

We described a case of diffuse biphasic cutaneous amyloidosis, a unique form of localized cutaneous amyloidosis. A 41-year-old man has gradually developed a lichenoid papular and a grouped spotted pigmented macular eruption on the trunk and upper extremities over the past 15 years. Histopathologic examination revealed that amyloid deposits were present in the papillary dermis. It was confirmed by Congo red staining, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. There was no evidence of systemic amyloidosis.
Adult ; Amyloidosis* ; Congo Red ; Dermis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Upper Extremity

Lyme disease is an infecious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorfieii and has been reported world-wide. The spirochete invades multiple organs and induces manifesations in the skin, joints, neri us and cardiovascular systems. 13espite a considerable amount of serological evidence and isolation of R burgdorferi in ticks, no human case has yet been reported in korea. In this report, we present the first clinical case of Lyme disease in Korea. A female patient, 26 years old, developed clinical signs of eryth m,i chronicum migpans about ten days after traveling to a rural area and responded well to treatment ith entibiotions. Laboratory tests showed elevated IgM and IgG responses to B. burgdorferi, and a spirociete was found in a skin biopsy by electron microscopy.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Borrelia ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; Cardiovascular System ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Joints ; Korea ; Lyme Disease* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Skin ; Spirochaetales ; Ticks

No abstract available
Mycosis Fungoides*

Angioma serpiginosum is a rare vascular naevoid disorder due to progressive ectatic dilatation of capillaries in the papillary dermis. We report two cases of angioma serpiginosum. A 24-year-old woman presented with asymptomatic multiple deeply red macules arranged in a serpiginous pattern on the left posterior thigh. In the other case, an 8-year-old girl had asymptomatic red nonpalpable puncta that were grouped closely together in a linear pattern from the left lower abdomen to thigh. On the histopathological examination, both cases commonly showed grouped, dilated, ectatic vessels in the upper dermis. These clinical and histopathological findings were typical of angioma serpiginosum.
Abdomen ; Capillaries ; Child ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Thigh ; Young Adult