Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG), is a rare multisystem disease that manifests as cutaneous inflammatory lesions, and is commonly associated with lymphoproliferative disease. Diffuse normolipemic plane xanthoma (NX), is also a rare, acquired disease that is often associated with systemic diseases such as lymphoproliferative disease. Both of these diseases have been reported to be associated with monoclonal gammopathy (MG). However, there are few cases in which these diseases co-exist. A 78-year-old female, who had a known case of NX on the neck and axillary area, presented with an asymptomatic erythematous plaque on her left supraclavicular area. Histopathological examination showed lymphoid aggregates, necrobiotic areas, and granulomatous inflammation in the dermis. Numerous foreignbody and Touton type giant cells were noticed. Serum protein immunoelectrophoresis showed an IgG kappa type MG. Lipid profile of the patient was normal. Bone marrow examination showed plasma cell myeloma. Based on these histologic and laboratory results, we diagnosed this lesion as NXG coexisting with NX and multiple myeloma. She was started on treatment with bortezomib and melphalan for multiple myeloma, and high-dose systemic corticosteroid and triamcinolone intralesional injection for the skin lesion. After 3 months of treatment, the NXG skin lesion and MG improved.

Typically, sporotrichosis follows an environmental transmission route via traumatic inoculation of contaminated plant or soil matter. Although familial occurrences of sporotrichosis are rare, human-to-human transmission is even rarer. Herein, we report two cases, a father and son, with sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix (S.) globosa. A 33-year-old male who otherwise appeared healthy presented with a tender, erythematous, ulcerative crusted plaque on the left ala nasi and upper lip. A skin biopsy and mycological study revealed fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis. The patient irregularly received oral itraconazole with a relapsing course. Approximately a year later, his 3-year-old son developed a single plaque on the left leg. When the father carried his son on his shoulder, there was direct contact between the two lesions. Fungal culture results from the father and son's lesions confirmed S. globosa with ribosomal DNA ITS sequencing. In both patients, oral terbinafine exhibited better results than oral itraconazole. These cases are an excellent example of human-to-human transmission of sporotrichosis.

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex is a heterogeneous group. A new classification, based on molecular biology, has replaced the one based on morphology, physiology, and mating behavior. OBJECTIVE: T. mentagrophytes isolates from Korean patients were classified using the new method and compared with the classic classification. METHODS: During 2010-2011, fungal isolates were collected at the Catholic skin clinic from 562 patients infected with T. mentagrophytes; clinical characteristics were reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups based on the morphological characteristics of the isolates. Thirty-four strains of T. mentagrophytes were randomly selected from the four groups for mycological and molecular biology analyses, including analyses of morphological characteristics, ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, and rDNA nontranscribed spacer (NTS) typing. RESULTS: Among the 562 isolates, persicolor (41.6%) was the most common strain type, followed by the powdery (38.4%), downy (11.2%), and granular (8.7%) types. The granular type differed from the other three with respect to the isolation site, patient's age, seasonal variation, and microscopic characteristics. Among the selected 34 strains, the microscopic characteristics varied for each strain. The powdery, persicolor, and downy types had ITS sequences identical to those of the anthropophilic T. interdigitale/A. vanbreuseghemii. The ITS sequence of granular type was similar to that of zoophilic T. interdigitale/A. vanbreuseghemii. The granular type had different NTS types than the other types did. CONCLUSION: The T. mentagrophytes strains isolated were classified as T. interdigitale/A. vanbreuseghemii; the majority (91.7%) was anthropophilic and 8.3% were zoophilic and granular type.
Classification* ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Humans ; Methods ; Molecular Biology ; Physiology ; Seasons ; Skin ; Trichophyton*

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL) is a rare primary cutaneous lymphoma that is predominantly composed of large lymphoid cells that express the CD30 antigen. The skin lesion of PCALCL is usually single, ulcerative, and located on the trunk or extremities and rarely the palm. A 25-year-old woman presented with a plaque on the left palm for 20 days. The plaque was walnut-sized and purple to gray colored with erosion in the center. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration of large atypical cells in the dermis. The large tumor cells showed positivity for CD3, CD4, and CD30 and negativity for CD8, CD20, epithelial membrane antigen, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase. PET-CT showed no other hypermetabolic lesion except that on the left palm, and we finally arrived at a diagnosis of PCALCL. The patient was treated with an intralesional injection of methotrexate (25 mg/mL, 0.45 cc). After 3 months of treatment, the walnut-sized plaque had disappeared and a peripheral hyperpigmented patch remained.
Adult ; Antigens, CD30 ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; Lymphoma, Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell* ; Methotrexate ; Mucin-1 ; Phosphotransferases ; Skin ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lichens*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lichens*

BACKGROUND: PCR-based reverse blot hybridization assay (PCR-REBA) has high sensitivity and specificity, can be performed directly on nail samples, is relatively cheaper than other molecular biologic methods, and is useful for diagnosing onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the diagnostic efficacy of fungal culture and REBA Fungus-ID® which is a commercial PCR-REBA-based kit used for onychomycosis diagnosis. METHODS: Fifty nail samples were collected from 50 patients diagnosed with onychomycosis via direct microscopic examination using KOH preparation, and subjected to fungal culture and REBA Fungus-ID® test. RESULTS: The sensitivity of conventional fungal culture and REBA Fungus-ID® was 56% and 100%, respectively. In REBA Fungus-ID®, 43 of 50 samples were found to be infected with Trichophyton rubrum. Four of the remaining 7 samples were identified as infected with Trichophyton spp., one with Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and two revealed a panfungal DNA sequence. In fungal culture, 28 of 50 samples showed growth, of which 18 samples were identified as T. rubrum, 3 as Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, 3 as Cladosporium spp., 1 as Cyphellophora europaea, 1 as Penicillium cvjetkovicii, 1 as Lachnum soppittii, and 1 as non-dermatophytic mold. REBA Fungus-ID® and fungal culture were identical in 20 cases (40%). The non-dermatophytic fungi identified in fungal culture were considered contaminants. CONCLUSION: Nail specimens can be used directly for REBA Fungus-ID®, which has a high sensitivity for onychomycosis diagnosis. Therefore, it can be considered useful for diagnosis and identification of the causative organism in mixed infections like onychomycosis.
Base Sequence ; Cladosporium ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Onychomycosis* ; Penicillium ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhodotorula ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trichophyton

Sporotrichosis is a chronic cutaneous fungal infection caused by Sporothrix (S.) schenckii complex. Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis is one of the three subtype of sprotrichosis and accounts for 20% of total sporotrichosis cases. However, the incidence of total sporotrichosis cases is decreasing recently due to improvement of personal hygiene and industrialization. A 60-year-old woman presented to the hospital with multiple erythematous papules and ulcers on left cheek for 5 months. Histopathologic examination revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation and immunohistochemical staining was positive for GMS and PAS stain. The fungal culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar showed grayish dark brown colonies and the sequences of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region of clinical sample was 100% similarity with S. globosa. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole 200 mg daily and topical ketoconazole cream for 3 months. At that time after this treatment, skin lesion was almost cured and recurrence is not observed to date.
Agar ; Cheek ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Ketoconazole ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Sporothrix* ; Sporotrichosis* ; Ulcer