Dermoscopic-pathologic correlation: an atlas of 15 cases.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Eleonora Ruocco.
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Congenital melanocytic nevi carry a risk for malignant transformation into melanoma, therefore early detection of suspicious features is crucial to reduce mortality rates. Dermoscopy improves the early detection of melanoma while reducing the number of unnecessary excisions of benign pigmented skin lesions. Dermoscopically, congenital melanocytic nevi are often characterized by the presence of a cobblestone pattern, but to date, little is known about the dermoscopic features of acral congenital melanocytic nevi. We report an acral congenital melanocytic nevus typified by the presence of three different dermoscopic patterns that are commonly seen in acquired melanocytic nevi of palms and soles.
A 35-year-old dentist came to the authors' attention for papular and vegetating lesions that had appeared on his penile shaft over the last 2 months. The lesions differed in their features: pink and vegetating on the left side, brown and papular on the right side (Figure 1). The obvious clinical diagnoses of genital warts on the left and Bowenoid papulosis on the right were confirmed by punch biopsies, which showed epithelial hyperplasia with diffuse cell vacuolization (koilocytes)in the left biopsy and moderate nuclear dysplasia in the right one (Figure 2). Human papillomavirus phenotyping was not performed. Interestingly, the patient reported a clear medical history of herpes progenital is (only one episode) that had involved the right side of his glans and prepuce 4 years ago. An immunomodulating treatment with imiquimod was started in the attempt to cure both the genital warts and Bowenoid papulosis lesions (imiquimod was applied three times a week for 8 weeks). At the end of the treatment, the genital warts had disappeared, whereas many Bowenoid papulosis lesions were still present on the right side of the penis (Figure 3). Treated with liquid nitrogen as well, the Bowenoid papulosis lesions disappeared.
Lyell's syndrome, or toxic epidermal necrolysis, is a rare, potentially life-threatening mucocutaneous disease, usually provoked by the administration of a drug and characterized by acute necrosis of the epidermis. The drugs most frequently incriminated are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chemotherapics, antibiotics, and anticonvulsants. An immunologic response to immunocomplexes formed by metabolites of the causal drug and the common tissue antigens is thought to be responsible for this disorder. Preceded by fever, general malaise, and other flu-like symptoms, bullous and erosive lesions involve oral, ocular, and genital mucosae; and vast areas of the skin with extensive dermoepidermal detachments. The loss of fluid and electrolytes and supervening infections lead to a severe general condition, often with fatal outcome. Treatment is based on the administration of fluids, electrolytes, and albumin. The use of systemic corticosteroids is controversial. Plasmapheresis and hyperbaric oxygen proved to be useful. The employment of high doses of IV immunoglobulins is a novel, valid, and promising treatment.
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A possible mechanism for phenol-induced pemphigus lesions in genetically predisposed individuals is proposed that accounts for in vitro observations and cases of biochemical acantholysis, as well as the in vivo acantholysis in pemphigus induced by phenols. The mechanism involves the induction of interleukin-1a and tumor necrosis factor-a release by keratinocytes. These cytokines in turn have been shown to be involved in the regulation and synthesis of complement and proteases like plasminogen activator, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris.