Neuroendocrine carcinoma is known to have features of neuroendocrine and epithelial differentiation through immunochemical and biochemical investigation and Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare primary malignancy of the skin belonging to the broad spectrum of tumors of the neuroendocrine system. Small cell carcinoma of uterine cervix, also a kind of neuroenodcrine carcinoma, is rarely reported and it is much more exceptional in the world that cervical carcinoma metastases to distant skin. Further more this may be the first case of a uterine neuroendocrine carcinoma metastasizing to the skin in Korean medical literature. We report a case of 74-year-old woman who presented with a somewhat fixed subcutaneous nodule measuring 2.5 cmX0.8 cm on the left side of forehead. A biopsy of the nodule revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma under the muscle without involvement of upper structures and it showed neuroendocrine differentiation by immunohistologic studies. Before appearing as cutaneous manifestation 2 months ago, she had showed a history of abnormal vaginal bleeding and diagnosed as a cervical neuroendocrine carcinoma, especially small cell carcinoma histologically.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine* ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neurosecretory Systems ; Skin* ; Uterine Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: There is no clear dermatologic definition to describe sensitive skin which usually includes subjective and psychological meanings. Some individuals exhibit exaggerated response, especially on the face, ranging from itching to intense adverse reaction like erythema, wheal, and eczema in comparison to normal ones when exposed to external irritants, allergens, environmental changes or internal stimulants. OBJECTIVE: To diagnose sensitive skin, lactic acid sting test is well known to represent a person who has subjective symptoms like itching, burning, prickling and stinging. We tried to compare several lactic acid sting tests to search for sensitive skin conveniently and rationally. METHODS: A total of 50 panelists (25 people of sensitive group and 25 people of control group, respectively) were selected by the method of self-assessment questionnaires related to sensitive skin. The panelists were tested on face, by conditioning 3 variances (5% or 10% Lactic acid, Hydration, Hilltop chamber), in 2 week intervals, 8 times totally. RESULTS: When lactic acid sting tests were performed using Hilltop chamber, there were more positive responders in sensitive group(p<0.05). There was statistically a significant difference between the 2 groups in the comparison of mean values of lactic acid sting scores (p<0.05). Sensitive group showed higher sting scores and exhibited much more difference with time (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our experiment showed that occlusive technique using Hilltop chamber was an inspiring and useful method of several lactic acid sting tests to find out sensitive skin.
Allergens ; Bites and Stings* ; Burns ; Eczema ; Erythema ; Humans ; Irritants ; Lactic Acid* ; Pruritus ; Self-Assessment ; Skin* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Kaposi's varricelliform eruption is a characteristic syndrome of disseminated vesiculopustules superimposed on variable pre-existing dermatoses. Among these, atopic dermatitis is most common disease. We report two cases of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption associated with atopic dermatitis in a pair of identical twins. Diagnosis was made by the history, clinical feature, histologic examination and serologic test. These patients' condition was much improved by the treatment with antiviral agent and antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption* ; Serologic Tests ; Skin Diseases ; Twins, Monozygotic*

Solitary myofibroma is a recently described, benign neoplasm of superficial soft tissue, which represents the adult counterpart of infantile myofibromatosis. In Korean literature, only one case has been reported, and we report an additional case of solitary myofibroma in a 57-year-old man. He presented with 2-month history of asymptomatic slightly elevated pale-skin-colored nodule occurring on the right side of philtrum. A histopathologic examination revealed diffuse proliferation of fibroblasts and spindle cells with a whorled arrangement and grouped fascicles. The tumor cells were positively stained for vimentin and smooth muscle actin.
Actins ; Adult* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lip ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myofibroma* ; Myofibromatosis ; Vimentin

Noncontiguous bilateral herpes zoster is very rare, especially in a child. Herpes zoster duplex bilateralis means that both halves of the body are involved with the disease. A 4-year-old female, previously healthy, was presented with painful grouped papulovesicles on an erythematous base on both sides of the trunk (left T5 dermatome and right T7,8 dermatomes). Tzanck smear showed multinucleated giant cells and the histopathologic findings were consistent with herpes viral infection. She was treated with oral acyclovir for 7 days without any significant complication.
Acyclovir ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Giant Cells ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Increased isolation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Entero bacteriaceae resistant to third generation cephalosporins and aztreonam has been noted recently. This study was to determine the prevalence of resistance to these drugs and ESBL in Enterobacteriaceae and to evaluate the methods for de tection. METHODS: During the period of October, 1997 and March, 1998, a total of 731 clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were collected from patients of the Kosin Medical Center, Pusan, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibility test by disk diffusion method and double disk synergy test were performed. MICs of beta-lactams were determined by agar dilution method. And ESBL genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: About 10% of Escherichia coli isolates and 20% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were intermediate or resistant to the third generation cephalosporins or aztreonam. Sensitivities of cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefpodoxime disks for the detection of ESBL- producing strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae by NCCLS standards were 100%, respectively, but that of aztreonam disk was 97%. Positive predictive value of the ceftazidime disk was higher than those of other disks. Twenty strains of E. coli, 20 K pneumoniae, 19 Enterobacter spp., six Citrobacter freundii, and eight Serratia marcescens showed positive results in double disk synergy test. The transconjugant strain of K. pneumoniae K20482 had blaSHV, and remains of transconjugants of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp. and S. marcescens had blaTEM. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, many strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated in Korea were resistant to third generation cephalosporins and aztreonam. Some of the strains of Enterobacter spp. and S. marcescens as well as E. coli and K. pneumoniae produced ESBL, and majority of these strains had blaTEM. In the detection of ESBL-producing strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae by NCCLS standards, all of the antimicrobial agent disks tested were useful, but ceftazidime disk was most effective because of its highest positive predictive value.
Agar ; Aztreonam ; beta-Lactamases ; beta-Lactams ; Busan ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftazidime ; Ceftriaxone ; Cephalosporins ; Citrobacter freundii ; Diffusion ; Enterobacter ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Escherichia coli ; Genotype ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Korea ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Serratia marcescens

No abstract available.
Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Sebaceous Glands*

Within the past few years, an increasing number of reports of Hodgkin's disease following the diagnosis of, and frequently coexisting with, mycosis fungoides have appeared. Previously, Hodgkin's disease found in the lymph nodes of the patient diagnosed as mycosis fungoides was considered as a transformed form of the mycosis fungoides. But, now it has been proven that Hodgkin's disease and mycosis fungoides are histologically and immunohistochemically distinct disease entities. We report a well-documented case of a man who developed Hodgkin's disease and mycosis fungoides simultaneously as a composite lymphoma. Our case emphasizes the importance of considering the diagnosis of another lymphoma in patients with mycosis fungoides who have lymphadenopathy. The cutaneous mycosis fungoides and the Hodgkin's disease should be treated as an independent disease.
Adult ; Case Report ; Hodgkin Disease/*pathology ; Human ; Male ; Mycosis Fungoides/*pathology ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/*pathology ; Skin Neoplasms/*pathology

Twelve male patients with operable breast cancer were evaluated for the expression of prognostic factors by immunohistochemical staining assay. Seven patients were stage I and II, and five patients were stage III. Axillary lymph node positivity was 42%. Nine patients were nuclear grade I, three were nuclear grade II, and none were nuclear grade III. The expression rate of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), ER (estrogen receptor) were 8.3%, 70.0% respectively. This limited data suggest better tumor behavior in male than in female breast cancer. Adjuvant treatment should be considered in male breast cancer just as in females, based on axillary lymph node and ER states.
Breast Neoplasms/*chemistry/pathology ; Carcinoma/*chemistry/pathology ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/*analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen/*analysis

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Leiomyosarcoma*