BACKGOUND: Interferon-alpha2b has already proven to be effective in the clinical treatment of virus-originated diseases such as hairy cell leukemia, condyloma acuminatum, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. The use of recombinant interferon-alpha2b may allow various types of wart to be treated relatively atraumatically and with less incidence of recurrence. OBJECTIVE: We tried to compare the effectiveness and safety of intralesional injections of recombinant interferon-alpha2b with natural interferon-alpha2b in the treatment of patients with various types of wart. METHOD: Patients with more than two warts were treated by injecting the different warts with 0.5 to 1.0X105 IU/1mm3 of recombinant and natural interferon-alpha2b, twice per week for 4 to 20 weeks. The response to treatment was followed up at 36 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, clearing of the treated warts had occurred in 83.3% of the recombinant interferon-alpha2b group and 91.6% of the natural interferon-alpha2b group. A more rapid cure rate was observed in the natural interferon-alpha2b group than in the recombinant interferon-alpha2b group. The rest showed partial improvement. With evaluation for relapse up to 16 weeks after treatment, warts were found to relapse in 11.1% of both the recombinant and natural interferon groups. CONCLUSION: Intralesional natural interferon-alpha2b has a better therapeutic effect than recombinant interferon-alpha2b, and may be considered as a therapeutic modality of recalcitrant verruca or when it can be anticipated that destructive techniques or blistering agents will not be tolerated.
Blister ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interferons ; Leukemia, Hairy Cell ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Warts*

A Bednar tumor is a rare pigmented subtype of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The clinical and histopathological findings of Bednar tumors are identical to DFSP, except for the presence of melanin-containing cells within the lesion. We present a case of a Bednar tumor on the left anterior chest of a 58-years-old woman. It was presented as an asymptomatic, firm, hyperpigmented 1.8x2.7cm sized nodule with surrounding erythematous patch which had been present for over 35 years. The tumor was treated by wide local excision of the lesion. There has been no evidence of recurrence during a 1 year follow-up period.
Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) may develop under various chronic pruritic conditions, such as allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). However, there have been only a few studies on the relationship between ACD and the development of LSC. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and frequency of contact sensitization in patients with LSC. METHOD: In a retrospective study, 71 patients with LSC, who had shown resistance to conventional treatment and had been examined with patch tests in the Korean standard series, were evaluated for their clinical features and results of the patch testing. RESULTS: 1. The patients comprised of 32 males and 39 females. The mean age was 51.8 (19-80) years, and the highest incidence was shown in the 50-60 year age range. The predominant sites of the dermatitis were the trunk (25.4%), arms (16.7%), widespread on the body (14.7%), the scalp (9.8%) and the neck (9.8%). 2. Sixty five (91.5%) out of 71 patients showed a positive reaction to one or more allergens. The highest sensitization rates were found with: nickel sulfate (38%), balsam of Peru (25.6%), 4-phenylenediamine base (23.9%), fragrance mix (22.5%), mercury ammonium chloride (18.3%), cobalt chloride (18.3%) and potassium dichromate (15.5%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that contact sensitization may possibly play an etiologic role in the development of LSC, and there are some dominant allergens, including nickel, 4-phenylenediamine, balsam of Peru and fragrance mix. Therefore, when LSC is resistant to conventional treatment, it is important to carry out patch testing, and to bear in mind the possibility of ACD contributing to the development of LSC.
Allergens ; Ammonium Chloride ; Arm ; Cobalt ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lichens* ; Male ; Neck ; Neurodermatitis* ; Nickel ; Patch Tests* ; Peru ; Potassium Dichromate ; Retrospective Studies ; Scalp

We report a case of alopecia mucinosa in a 9-year-old girl. She presented with several papules on an erythematous patch on the right side of the ala nasi, a hairless nodular lesion on the same side of the nasal canal. Histopathologic findings obtained from the nasal canal revealed typical features of alopecia mucinosa, such as reticular degeneration, cystic space formation and mucin deposition in the pilosebaceous follicle. The case displayed no evidence or clinical features of any malignant changes, and we suspect the case to be an acute form of alopecia mucinosa.
Alopecia* ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Mucinosis, Follicular* ; Mucins

No abstract available.

Porokeratosis are characterized by distinct clinical findings of a keratotic ridge that corresponds to the cornoid lamella on histology and has well defined potential for malignancy. We report a case of basal cell carcinoma(BCC) arising in linear porokeratosis in a 77-yearold man.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Porokeratosis*

Congenital constricting band of the trunk is a rare malformation with a wide spectrum of associated congenital anomalies. A 3-year-old boy with a congenital constricting band around the waist and anterior thigh and clubfoot deformity is reported. Laboratory test and chest and abdominal X-ray examination were within normal limits and unremarkable. Histopathologic examination revealed compact fibrocollagenous bundles in deep dermis. The compact fibrocollagenous bundles are parallel to the skin surface and have thin wavy nuclei. We think these bundles caused annular constriction on the trunk. We follow up the patient regularly without specific treatment because the constricting band caused no functional impairment and hypertrophic scar had developed at the biopsy site.
Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Clubfoot ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction ; Dermis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Thigh ; Thorax

Protothecosis is an unusual cutaneous soft tissue infection caused by the Prototheca, which is a genus of the unicelluar, achloric algae. We report a case of cutaneous protothecosis in a 66-year-old female, who showed erythematous, purulent patches and plaques with ulcerations on the right forearm for 2 months. Biopsy specimen revealed the characteristic thick-walled morulalike sporangia in the dermis. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated in the culture and the biochemical study. Electron microscopic examination showed the thick-walled spores containing dark dense bodies and amyloplasts. After two months of oral itraconazole 200mg/day, skin lesions were improved.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Plastids ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Sporangia ; Spores ; Ulcer

The hand is complex embryological organ and the supernumerary digit is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the upper limbs. We report a premature female with congenital grotesque mass on her left hand that was found roentgenographically and histopathologically to be composed of infarcted cartilage structure. The patient had also congenital heart disease. We treated it with total excision.
Cartilage ; Female ; Hand ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Upper Extremity

A total of 748 newborns delivered at the Fatima Hospital, Taegu, Korea, over period of 8 months were examined for the presence of skin lesions within 48 hours of birth. The frequencies of the type of birthmarks were: salmon patch, 61.8%; portwine stain, 0.7%; mongolian spot, 99.1%; cafe-au-lait spot, 0.5%; congenital nevomelanocytic nevus, 0.5%; milia, 44.5%; sebaceous hyperplasia, 76.9%; nevus sebaceus, 0.9%; erythema toxicum neonatorum, 29.3%; genital hyperpigmentation, 49.7%. Erythema toxicum neonatorum was less common in premature infants and more frequent on the second day of life than first one. Genital hyperpigmentation was observed predominantly in the male neonate. There was positive relationship between genital hyperpigmentation and birthweight.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Daegu ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyperplasia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Korea ; Male ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus ; Parturition ; Salmon ; Skin*