Proliferative fasciitis is a rare reactive condition that presents with pseudosarcomatous lesions in subcutaneous tissues. Clinically, most patients present with firm, rapidly growing subcutaneous nodule and two thirds of patients complained of pain and tenderness. Most of lesions occur in the extremities, with the upper extremity (especially the forearm) affected more commonly than the lower extremity. Microscopically, proliferative fasciitis is composed of spindle cells that are deposited in a variably myxoid and collagenous stroma. It is characterized by the presence of large basophilic cells with one or two vesicular nuclei. Proliferative fasciitis could be confused with sarcomas because of intense cellularity, high mitotic index, and rapid growth. A 26-year-old woman complained of a painful nodule on her right second finger. Its size was gradually increased and pain was worsened. Histopathological examination revealed that the lesion consisted predominantly of spindle-shaped cells intermingled with a few gangliocyte-like giant cells. We herein report a rare case of proliferative fasciitis in the finger in a 26-year-old woman.
Adult ; Basophils ; Collagen ; Extremities ; Fasciitis* ; Female ; Fingers* ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Mitotic Index ; Sarcoma ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Upper Extremity

Hypertrichosis cubiti, also named hairy elbows syndrome, circumscribed hypertrichosis in which a remarkable amount of long vellus hair is localized on the extensor surfaces of the upper extremities. We report a case of hairy elbows syndrome in a 12-year-old female patient, who was treated for short stature in pediatrics. She was referred to our department because of hypertrichosis of both elbows. Her height is 131cm, it is below 3 percentile of that of age. We could not find any physical abnormalities and other developmental disorders except short stature. But, Her intelligence is somewhat delayed comparative to that of age. She denied her family history about that. The literature on this subject is reviewed, and some clinical and etiopathogenic aspects are discussed.
Child ; Elbow* ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Intelligence ; Pediatrics ; Upper Extremity

Localized scleroderma is a disease of unknown origin and is characterized by circumscribed sclerotic skin changes. When occurring in a linear pattern, it is called linear scleroderma. 'En coup de sabre' is a subtype of linear scleroderma which is characterized by band-like, ivory-colored depressions on the frontoparietal scalp region. Several treatment modalities have been used. However, they have not been effective or safe. We report our experience of two patients with 'en coup de sabre' on the forehead, who were treated successfully with polymethylmethacrylate microspheres (PMMA-NewPlastic(R)).
Depression ; Forehead ; Humans ; Microspheres* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate* ; Scalp ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Skin

Giant Cells* ; Granuloma, Giant Cell* ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP) is a rare form of cutaneous mastocytosis, and this is characterized by multiple brownish-red confluent macules and telangiectasia. Although several cases of TMEP have been reported in the Korean literature, no clinicopathological studies have yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to document the clinical features of TMEP, to examine the histopathological features of TMEP and to quantify the number of perivascular mast cell by using the 'mast cells per vessel unit method (MPV). METHODS: The medical records of 16 patients with TMEP and who were seen at our institution from 1999 through 2006 were retrieved. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records, clinical photographs and histopathology slides of these patients. Furthermore, we quantified the number of perivascular mast cells, using the MPV method, on the slides of the TMEP patients, and then we compared this to the number of perivascular mast cells in normal skin (n=10) and urticaria pigmentosa skin (UP, n=10) as controls. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 13:3 and the mean age of onset was 36.31+/-12.34 years. The most commonly involved sites were both the trunk and upper extremities (62.5%). 5 patients (31.3%) showed constitutional symptoms. A microscopic examination demonstrated scant perivascular infiltrate with mast cells. The average number of mast cells less than 55micrometer of vessel diameter in the TMEP, normal skin and UP was 3.32, 1.17 and 5.89, respectively and the average number of mast cells that were more than 55micrometer in the TMEP, normal skin and UP was 7.00, 2.08 and 21.00, respectively and these values showed statistical differences (p<.0001). The MPV that was of less than 55micrometer of vessel diameter in the patients with associated cutaneous or systemic symptoms was greater that that of the patients without associated symptoms and these values showed statistical differences (p<.005). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that TMEP can be associated various constitutional and cutaneous symptoms. The MPV method can be an effective method for differentiating the histopathologic findings of TMEP from those of normal skin or UP.
Age of Onset ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytosis, Cutaneous ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Telangiectasis ; Upper Extremity ; Urticaria Pigmentosa

BACKGROUND: Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP) is a rare form of cutaneous mastocytosis, and this is characterized by multiple brownish-red confluent macules and telangiectasia. Although several cases of TMEP have been reported in the Korean literature, no clinicopathological studies have yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to document the clinical features of TMEP, to examine the histopathological features of TMEP and to quantify the number of perivascular mast cell by using the 'mast cells per vessel unit method (MPV). METHODS: The medical records of 16 patients with TMEP and who were seen at our institution from 1999 through 2006 were retrieved. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records, clinical photographs and histopathology slides of these patients. Furthermore, we quantified the number of perivascular mast cells, using the MPV method, on the slides of the TMEP patients, and then we compared this to the number of perivascular mast cells in normal skin (n=10) and urticaria pigmentosa skin (UP, n=10) as controls. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 13:3 and the mean age of onset was 36.31+/-12.34 years. The most commonly involved sites were both the trunk and upper extremities (62.5%). 5 patients (31.3%) showed constitutional symptoms. A microscopic examination demonstrated scant perivascular infiltrate with mast cells. The average number of mast cells less than 55micrometer of vessel diameter in the TMEP, normal skin and UP was 3.32, 1.17 and 5.89, respectively and the average number of mast cells that were more than 55micrometer in the TMEP, normal skin and UP was 7.00, 2.08 and 21.00, respectively and these values showed statistical differences (p<.0001). The MPV that was of less than 55micrometer of vessel diameter in the patients with associated cutaneous or systemic symptoms was greater that that of the patients without associated symptoms and these values showed statistical differences (p<.005). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that TMEP can be associated various constitutional and cutaneous symptoms. The MPV method can be an effective method for differentiating the histopathologic findings of TMEP from those of normal skin or UP.
Age of Onset ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytosis, Cutaneous ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Telangiectasis ; Upper Extremity ; Urticaria Pigmentosa

No abstract available.
Depression* ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Humans

Eczema herpeticum is a herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection with disseminated skin involvement superimposed on a pre-existing dermatosis such as atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, pemphigus vulgaris and Darier's disease. We report a case of eczema herpeticum by HSV-1 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in a 20-year-old man associated with Darier's disease.
Male ; Humans

PURPOSE: It was well known that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 plays a pivotal role in interstitial fibrosis and loss of podocyte. We explored the effects of exogenous administration of TGF-beta1 latency-associated peptide (LAP) in a model of renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and examined whether TGF-beta1 LAP can inhibit apoptosis of podocyte. METHODS: Twenty four male BALB/c mice were unilaterally obstructed of proximal ureters by ligation. Half of the mice with operation and half of 8 control were administered recombinant human LAP intraperitoneally. One to three mice per group were euthanized on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 after operation for observation of renal fibrosis and apoptosis of podocyte. RESULTS: Interstitial fibrosis was less severe in LAP-treated group. Obstructed kidneys from LAP- untreated mice had more glomerular apoptotic podocytes (TUNEL assay) compared to LAP-treated mice at day 7, 14, and 21 after operation. CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal administration of TGF-beta1 LAP prevents the loss of podocyte & renal damage partially up to day 14 after operation.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Ligation ; Male ; Mice ; Podocytes ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Ureter ; Ureteral Obstruction

PURPOSE: Localizing and differentiating a metastatic lesion of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) by using radio?iodine whole body scan could be difficult because a whole body scan (WBS) lacks anatomic information. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of radio-iodine SPECT/CT for differentiating equivocal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 253 patients with DTC who had undergone radio-iodine scan between February and July 2006, 26 patients were enrolled (M:F = 8:18, Age 50.7 +/- 12.5 years) in this study. The patients had abnormal uptakes in the WBSs that necessitated precise anatomical localization for differentiating between a metastatic lesion and a false-positive lesion. SPECT/CT was performed for the region with abnormal uptake in the WBS. WBS and SPECT/CT were evaluated visually. Metastases were diagnosed based on the results of the radio-iodine scan along with the results of other radiological examinations and serological tests. RESULTS: Based on the WBS images, 13 were suspected with cervical lymph node (LN) metastases in 16 patients with abnormal neck uptake, and in the 11 patients with abnormal extra-cervical uptakes, extra-cervical metastases were doubtful in all. After SPECT/CT was performed, the diagnostic results were altered for 16 patients (62%). SPECT/CT revealed that only 5 patients had cervical LN metastases, while 3 patients had extra-cervical (mediastinal) LN metastases. Overall, there was a 58% (15/26) change in diagnoses and plans for treatment due to SPECT/CT. Among 8 patients suspected with metastases on SPECT/CT, 6 patients underwent another radio-iodine therapy. In 96% (24/25) of the patients, the results of SPECT/CT corresponded with those of further radiological examinations and with other clinical information. CONCLUSION: Radio-iodine SPECT/CT images permitted the differentiation of abnormal radio-iodine uptake and improved anatomical interpretation in DTC.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Serologic Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Whole Body Imaging