Metastatic cancers to the skin are rare and usually originate in the lung, breast, large intestine, or ovary. They commonly present with lesions in the area overlying the neoplasm, but the morphology, pattern and distribution may vary. Hepatoma metastasizes to the lungs, adrenal glands, regional lymph nodes, portal vein, gallbladder, pancreas, bone, hepatic vein, kidney, mediastinum, less commonly, the heart, peritoneum, diaphragm, and bone marrow. Cutaneous metastasis from hepatoma occurs very rarely and, if present, it usually presents as solitary or multiple nodules. We report two cases of cutaneous metastases from hepatoma.
Adrenal Glands ; Bone Marrow ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diaphragm ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Heart ; Hepatic Veins ; Intestine, Large ; Kidney ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Ovary ; Pancreas ; Peritoneum ; Portal Vein ; Skin

Tubular apocrine adenoma(TAA) is a rare benign neoplasm usually found on the scalp. It has been designated as an apocrine histogenesis on the basis of its ultrastructural characteristics, enzyme, and immunohistochemical phenotype. Histopathologically the neoplasm consists of tubules or cysts, which show signs of apocrine secretion and sometimes needs to be differentiated from papillary eccrine adenoma. We report a typical case of TAA on nostril which shows differentiation toward apocrine in nature.
Adenoma* ; Phenotype ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: Skin color is determined by many factors including melanin and nonmelanin pigments like hemoglobin and extraneous chemicals. Various factors such as race, sex, and age have been reported to have an influence on skin color. METHODS: Measurement of malanin index (M-index) was made by reflectance spectropho-tometer at three different sites including forehead, abdomen and forearm in total 800 healthy subjects consisting of 100 males and 100 females of neonates (three days after birth) and children (male:8.08±0.84, female:8.03±0.80, total :8.06±0.82 years of age), ado-lescence (mate:13.89± 0.76, female:13.96±0.79, total:13.93±0.78 years of age), and adults(male:24.26±0.82, female:24.40±0.89, total:24.33±0.86 years of age). We also investigated the change of M-index by each skin phototype of college students determined by Fitzpatrick classification. RESULTS: From the birth to the puberty, sex difference of melanin index was generally not not-ed, but adult females showed lower levels of melanin index in all sites measured. M-index in-creased from birth to adolescence, and decreased after adulthood. Forehead showed highest melanin index compared with other sites. Increase of M-index was noted as skin phototype goes from III to V. CONCLUSIONS: Factors including sex, age, body sites and skin phototype have a significant in-fluence on the changes of skin color in humans.
Abdomen ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Classification ; Continental Population Groups ; Female ; Forearm ; Forehead ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Melanins* ; Parturition ; Puberty ; Sex Characteristics ; Skin*

The vascular involvement is seen in 8% to 24% of patients with Behçet's syndrome. Arterial lesions are less frequently observed and the involvement of renal artery is very rare. Indeed, there is only one case report of ruptured renal aneurysm due to Behc et's disease. We report a case of renal artery rupture, which was likely caused by Behçet's disease. Even though we cannot completely rule out the other causes of renal artery rupture with this patient, the rupture was likely due to vascular involvement of Behçet's disease. Dermatologists always should consider the possibility of major vessel involvement when they treat patients with Behçet's disease, even if the incidence is very low and the patient may not complain of any systemic symptoms. INTRODUCTION: Behçet's disease was first defined by Hulusi Behçet's in 1937 as a multisystemic disease with the triad of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, genital ulceration and relapsing iritis. Its etiology remains obscure. It is accepted that the pathologic process of Behçet's disease is an immunologic vasculitis. Among vascilar lesions, the venous system is the major affected site. Arterial lesions, such as aneurysms or occlusions, are rarely reported, but sometimes adversely affects the course of the disease. Aneurysm formation is known to be life-threatening because of the risk of rupture.
Aneurysm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iritis ; Renal Artery* ; Rupture* ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis

Juvenile xanthogranuloma(JXG) is a benign disorder in which one, several, or occasionally numerous red to yellow nodules are present. The lesion may be present at birth, but usually arises in early infancy. Adult-onset xanthogranuloma clinically differ from juvenile xanthogranuloma in that the lesion is usually solitary and does not involve internal organs, and generally does not resolve without treatment. We report a case of xanthogranuloma in adult which occurred on the scalp and the trunk of 52-year-old male showing typical clinical and histopathological findings.
Adult* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic keratinocytes express CXC chemokines like IL-8 and GRO-alpha, and CC chemokines like MCP-1 and RANTES, which have a significant role in the accumulation of inflammatory cells in psoriatic skin and both CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors are also expressed in psoriatic keratinocytes, which suggests that IL-8 and GRO-alpha could have a role in the characteristic epidermal changes through binding to their receptors in psoriatic keratinocytes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of psoriasis by comparing immunoreactivity of various chemokines and chemokine receptors between lesional and non-lesional skin of psoriasis. METHODS:We have performed immunohistochemical studies with mouse anti-human IL-8, mouse anti-human GRO, anti-huamn MCP-1, mouse anti-human RANTES, anti-human CDw 128 IL-8RA/ CXCR1, and anti-human IL-8RB/CXCR2 for lesional and non-lesional skin of ten psoriatic patients. RESULTS: 1.Immunohistochemical reactivity for IL-8 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05) and immunohistochemical reactivity for GRO-alpha is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05). 2.Immunohistochemical reactivity for MCP-1 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05), and immunohistochemical reactivity for RANTES is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05). 3.Immunohistochemical reactivity for CXCR1 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05) and immunohistochemical reactivity for CXCR2 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05). 4.Immunofluorescent staining reveals positive finding in epidermis of lesional psoriasis, but negative finding in CXCR2. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that psoriatic keratinocytes express CXC chemokines like IL-8 and GRO-alpha, and CC chemokines like MCP-1 and RANTES, which have a significant role in the accumulation of inflammatory cells in psoriatic skin and that both CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors are also expressed in psoriatic keratinocytes, which suggests that IL-8 and GRO-alpha could have a role in the characteristic epidermal changes through binding to their receptors in psoriatic keratinocytes.
Animals ; Chemokine CCL5 ; Chemokines* ; Chemokines, CC ; Chemokines, CXC ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Keratinocytes ; Mice ; Psoriasis* ; Receptors, Chemokine* ; Receptors, Interleukin-8B ; Skin

Juvenile xanthogranuloma(JXG) is a benign disorder in which one, several, or occasionally numerous red to yellow nodules are present. The lesion may be present at birth, but usually arises in early infancy. Adult-onset xanthogranuloma clinically differ from juvenile xanthogranuloma in that the lesion is usually solitary and does not involve internal organs, and generally does not resolve without treatment. We report a case of xanthogranuloma in adult which occurred on the scalp and the trunk of 52-year-old male showing typical clinical and histopathological findings.
Adult* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic keratinocytes express CXC chemokines like IL-8 and GRO-alpha, and CC chemokines like MCP-1 and RANTES, which have a significant role in the accumulation of inflammatory cells in psoriatic skin and both CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors are also expressed in psoriatic keratinocytes, which suggests that IL-8 and GRO-alpha could have a role in the characteristic epidermal changes through binding to their receptors in psoriatic keratinocytes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of psoriasis by comparing immunoreactivity of various chemokines and chemokine receptors between lesional and non-lesional skin of psoriasis. METHODS:We have performed immunohistochemical studies with mouse anti-human IL-8, mouse anti-human GRO, anti-huamn MCP-1, mouse anti-human RANTES, anti-human CDw 128 IL-8RA/ CXCR1, and anti-human IL-8RB/CXCR2 for lesional and non-lesional skin of ten psoriatic patients. RESULTS: 1.Immunohistochemical reactivity for IL-8 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05) and immunohistochemical reactivity for GRO-alpha is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05). 2.Immunohistochemical reactivity for MCP-1 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05), and immunohistochemical reactivity for RANTES is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05). 3.Immunohistochemical reactivity for CXCR1 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05) and immunohistochemical reactivity for CXCR2 is stronger in lesional epidermis than non-lesional epidermis(p<0.05). 4.Immunofluorescent staining reveals positive finding in epidermis of lesional psoriasis, but negative finding in CXCR2. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that psoriatic keratinocytes express CXC chemokines like IL-8 and GRO-alpha, and CC chemokines like MCP-1 and RANTES, which have a significant role in the accumulation of inflammatory cells in psoriatic skin and that both CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors are also expressed in psoriatic keratinocytes, which suggests that IL-8 and GRO-alpha could have a role in the characteristic epidermal changes through binding to their receptors in psoriatic keratinocytes.
Animals ; Chemokine CCL5 ; Chemokines* ; Chemokines, CC ; Chemokines, CXC ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Keratinocytes ; Mice ; Psoriasis* ; Receptors, Chemokine* ; Receptors, Interleukin-8B ; Skin

Nerve sheath myxoma(NSM) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm of uncertain histogenesis. NSM can be divided into two groups; NSM1 (a myxoid NSM) and NSM2 (a cellular neurothekeoma). NSMs are characterized histologically by well-defined, lobular or plexiform dermal proliferation of stellate, spindle-shaped cells embedded in abundant myxoid stroma. A variable amount of nerve fascicles are entrapped within and around the tumor. Two variants of NSM share the same features to a certain degree but differ in cellularity and mucin deposition. We report two cases of NSMs with different clinical and histopathologic features.
Mucins ; Neurothekeoma*

BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor(NGF) is a neurotrophic polypeptide necessary for the survival and growth of some central neurons, as well as sensory afferent and sympathetic neurons. In addition to its actions on the nervous system, it also has significant biologic effects on cells of the immune-inflammatory compartment. NGF can variably induce melanocyte mitosis, increase melanogenesis, enhance dendricity and prevent apoptotic cell death following the UV injury. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of NGF on proliferation of cultured human melanocytes. METHODS: The effects of NGF on proliferation of cultured human melanocytes were evaluated. To specify the NGF effect on proliferation of human melanocytes, excess of anti-NGF neutralizing polyclonal antibody was added. RESULTS: 1) In 1% of melanocyte growth supplement(MGS) medium, all experimental groups showed no significant increase of cell number. The addition of anti-NGF polyclonal antibody did not influence the proliferation of melanocytes. 2) In 0.2% of MGS medium, all experimental groups showed no significant increase of cell number. The addition of anti-NGF polyclonal antibody did not influence the proliferation of melanocytes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, even though NGF has many biological influencse on melanocytes, it does not play a significant role in the proliferation of melanocyts.
Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Humans* ; Melanocytes* ; Mitosis ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Nervous System ; Neurons