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Joan Dalmau

Publications and source records attributed to Joan Dalmau.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Acral melanoma simulating warts: dermoscopic clues to prevent missing a melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Acral melanoma may adopt a variety of clinical characteristics simulating other tumors, ulcers, hemorrhage, or infections. In the Caucasian population health care providers often misdiagnose acral melanoma, and this is the cause of inadequate treatments. Clinical and dermoscopic clues can be easily recognized, which help to prevent missing a melanoma. OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical and dermoscopic findings in three cases of acral melanoma simulating warts that had been treated by dermatologists with curettage and cryotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical and dermoscopic study of the tumors and review of the most frequent simulators of acral melanoma reported in the literature. RESULTS: In all three tumors, hyperkeratosis and the lack of specific pigmentation were observed. The parallel ridge pattern, revealed by dermoscopic examination, precipitated the recognition of acral melanoma. CONCLUSION: In these cases that presented atypical characteristics of acral lesions, therefore challenging the diagnostic process, dermoscopic examination helped to confirm an accurate diagnosis of acral melanoma.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Cutaneous necrosis after injection of polyethylene glycol-modified interferon alfa.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b is a formulation of recombinant human interferon conjugated with polyethylene glycol. Compared with standard interferon alfa injections, this preparation has a longer half-life allowing for once-weekly injections and superior antiviral efficacy in the treatment of hepatitis C when used in combination with ribavirin. Cutaneous side effects caused by interferon are well known. Cutaneous necrosis as a result of interferon alfa is an infrequent complication with unknown pathogenesis, in which a cutaneous local immune-mediated inflammatory process might be involved. We report 5 patients (3 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b in association with oral ribavirin and two patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia) who developed local cutaneous reactions at sites of injection after the administration of weekly subcutaneous injections of pegylated interferon alfa-2b at different doses. The ulcers slowly healed with local therapy, but two patients required dose modification of the pegylated interferon alfa-2b and one patient required treatment withdrawal. We review the literature on previously reported cases of cutaneous necrosis after injection of standard interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alfa-2b and discuss the different pathophysiologic mechanisms that might be involved.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Scurvy: follicular purpura as a diagnostic sign].

Scurvy is a set of clinical manifestations characterized by general weakness, anemia, gingivitis and cutaneous bleeding, caused by a lack of ascorbic acid in the diet. This pathology is currently a clinical rarity, although it can still be seen in cases of malnutrition associated with alcoholism or with dietary deficiencies, especially in childhood and old age. We present the case of a 45-year-old male who consulted his physician because of lower limb edema with follicular purpura, accompanied by asthenia, polyarthralgia and bleeding gums. After treatment with 1 g/day of vitamin C was initiated, the patient's symptoms quickly improved. The diagnosis of scurvy was based on the patient's clinical symptoms, dietary history and the rapid resolution of the symptoms when vitamin C supplements were initiated.

Humans↗