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Biomedical subjects

M Pippione

Publications and source records attributed to M Pippione.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Psoriatic erythroderma: a histopathologic study of forty-five patients.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting opinions about the diagnostic value of skin biopsy in erythrodermic psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to establish the specificity of the histopathologic changes of psoriatic erythroderma. METHODS: We reviewed 52 skin biopsies from 45 erythrodermic patients having a final diagnosis of psoriasis on the basis of combined clinical and laboratory data, in addition to response to therapy and follow-up. In 5 patients, erythroderma was the presenting sign of psoriasis. A control group of nonpsoriatic erythrodermic patients was also included in the study. RESULTS: Among the group of patients with a discharge diagnosis of psoriatic erythroderma, the histopathologic changes were specific for psoriasis in 40 cases (88%). The changes of early macular and squamous lesions of psoriasis were more often found in the biopsy specimens of our series than those of fully developed or late lesions of psoriasis. They included mainly slight epidermal hyperplasia, focal disappearance of the granular layer, mounds of parakeratosis and extravasated erythrocytes within edematous dermal papillae associated with perivascular and interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and histiocytes. CONCLUSION: When features of early lesions of psoriasis are found during the evaluation of a biopsy specimen from a patient with a clinically nonspecific erythroderma, the dermatopathologist should be aware that this patient could have psoriasis and a renewed anamnesis and a close follow-up should be made.

Adolescent

Folliculosebaceous cystic hamartoma with perifollicular mucinosis.

An 8-year-old boy had a congenital, solitary verrucous lesion on his ear that histologically showed numerous maloriented infundibulocystic structures from which radiated immature sebaceous lobules as well as hair germs with rudimentary papillae. The surrounding stroma was fibrillary, containing large quantities of mucin. We conclude that perifollicular mucinosis, considered to be specific to Carney's syndrome, can also be observed in solitary folliculosebaceous hamartoma.

Child

Malignant cellular blue nevus: a clinicopathological study of 6 cases.

BACKGROUND: Malignant cellular blue nevus (MCBN) is a rare entity due to the malignant transformation of a preexisting cellular blue nevus (CBN). OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The clinical and pathologic features of 6 patients with MCBN are described. RESULTS: Three tumors were located on the scalp, 2 on the trunk and 1 on the neck. The lesions, present from birth or childhood, had enlarged rapidly in the last months before excision. Histologically, there was a dermal proliferation of spindle and epithelioid atypical melanocytic cells. Some of them were heavily pigmented. Numerous atypical mitoses were seen. In 2 cases, foci of necrosis were detected. In 2 cases, remnants of CBN were also noted. MCBN has a poor prognosis and may be difficult to differentiate from so-called atypical blue nevus, metastasis of malignant melanoma and malignant transformation of combined nevus. CONCLUSIONS: CBN may represent a precursor of malignant melanoma. In MCBN, malignant changes seem to occur in clear cells.

Adult

Cellular neurothekeoma.

We describe the histological and immunohistochemical findings of two cases of cellular neurothekeoma, a recently recognized benign neoplasm considered to be of neural origin. Morphologically they were characterized by a dermal proliferation of plexiform fascicles and small nests of pale eosinophilic, epithelioid or spindle-shaped cells which ramified in an ill-defined pattern between collagen bundles. Scant to moderate amounts of mucin were detected only in the plexiform lobules. Purely myxoid and cellular lobules concurred in these neoplasms. Immunohistochemically, both neoplasms exhibited focal immunoreactivity of the cells for factor XIIIa, providing further evidence for perineural differentiation. Problems of differential diagnosis with other plexiform neoplasms of uncertain origin are discussed.

Adult

Agminated Spitz nevi occurring within a congenital speckled lentiginous nevus.

A 40-year-old woman had a speckled lentiginous nevus on her thigh since birth. During her first pregnancy, additional papules and nodules appeared within the preexisting hyperpigmented area, histologic examination of which showed features of both junctional and compound Spitz's nevi accompanied by simple lentigolike changes. In this particular case, speckled lentiginous nevus may have constituted a particular environment for the production of multiple Spitz nevi.

Adult

Chronic venous stasis: not a predisposing factor for basal cell carcinoma on the leg. A histopathological study.

A histopathological study of 125 cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC; out of 5,475 over a period of 5 years) occurring on the leg was performed. Nodular and superficial BCC were the most common patterns. No sclerosing type was observed, although prominent fibrosis was present in some cases of BCC associated with severe stasis changes. Stasis changes were found only in 25% of the cases suggesting that they do not represent a predisposing factor for the development of BCC on the leg.

Aged

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia of low grade: a challenging diagnosis.

The authors reviewed 21 cases of "mild vulvar atypia" diagnosed from 1981 to 1990. The first 16 cases were diagnosed as hyperplastic dystrophy with mild atypia according to the 1976 ISSVD Classification of Vulvar Disease, while the last five cases were diagnosed as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia grade I (VIN I). The review of the specimens was made by the same pathologist who gave the initial diagnosis and by a dermatopathologist unaware of the initial diagnosis. Both reviewers used the 1986 and 1989 ISSVD terminologies. The presence of "mild atypia" was confirmed in only four of the 21 specimens, that is in 19% of the cases, and two of them were found in the context of patients suffering from a lichen planus. These findings show that the diagnosis of mild atypia in vulvar tissues is a challenge and that mild vulvar atypia cannot be automatically considered a VIN I.

Adult

Microvenular hemangioma.

We report five cases of microvenular hemangioma, a recently described benign vascular disorder. Clinically, they were acquired, slowly enlarging angiomatous lesions without distinctive features. Histologically, these tumors were characterized by a proliferation of small-sized, irregularly branched, blood vessels throughout the dermis embedded in a desmoplastic stroma. In many areas, the endothelial cells were surrounded by pericytes. The architectural pattern of microvenular hemangioma make its differentiation possible from other cutaneous benign vascular lesions, namely, capillary hemangioma, lobular capillary hemangioma, angioblastoma, and hemangiomas in polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinology, M protein, skin changes (POEMS) syndrome. A close relationship among these vascular proliferations is suggested.

Adult

Seborrheic keratosis-like lesions in epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

A light microscopic study of 6 verrucous lesions with clinical features of seborrheic keratoses (SK) occurring on sun-exposed skin of 4 patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) was performed. We observed the typical histological findings of SK in all cases. In addition, koilocytotic effects suggestive of EV were observed in the upper prickle layer and stratum granulosum. In 2 lesions, we also noted bowenoid changes suggesting possible early malignant transformation. Immunohistochemical study confirmed the presence of HPV in these lesions.

Adult

Mycosis fungoides and eruptive epidermoid cysts: a unique response of follicular and eccrine structures.

A case of a patient who developed simultaneously mycosis fungoides (MF) and multiple, tiny eruptive cutaneous cysts on the face, neck and upper part of the trunk is reported. Histologically and immunohistochemically MF infiltrate was recognized not only in the upper part of the dermis and in the epidermis but also around and within the walls of cystic lesions. Furthermore, the eccrine structures were also involved by MF infiltrate. We emphasize that MF infiltrate can affect the follicular and eccrine structures inducing the formation of keratinous cysts. The clinical appearance of the facial lesions may be confused with Favre-Racouchot disease.

Aged

Cutaneous lymphadenoma. A basal cell carcinoma with unusual inflammatory reaction pattern?

Two additional cases of cutaneous lymphadenoma (CL) are reported. The lesions presented as single nodules of many years' duration on the face. Histologically, the neoplasms consisted of irregularly shaped lobules immersed in a dense fibroblastic stroma involving the whole dermis and extending into the subcutaneous fat. Duct-like structures suggesting an eccrine differentiation were recognized. The lobules were composed of a rim of basaloid cells surrounding large epithelioid cells and lymphocytes. In some areas the basaloid lobules were only partly replaced by the inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemically, the intralobular inflammatory component was composed of a mixed B- and T-cell population and S-100-positive dendritic cells. The observation of these cases suggests that CL is not a distinct entity but may represent a basal cell carcinoma, possibly with pilar or eccrine differentiation, in which an immune host reaction pattern is exceedingly unusual.

B-Lymphocytes

HPV-related follicular cysts.

Five examples of follicular cysts with papillary projections protruding into the lumen are given. In all cases, the lining was epidermoid. The cystic cavity contained compact, eosinophilic keratinous material. Groups of vacuolated keratinocytes with overlying tiers of parakeratotic cells were seen on the top of the crests. In the intervening valleys, there were irregular clumps of keratohyaline granules. These changes are diagnostic cytopathogenic effects of viral papillomas. However, papillomavirus common antigens were not identified by immunohistochemistry.

Adult

Pigmented trichoblastoma.

We report a case of trichogenic tumor with epithelial and mesenchymal components recapitulating the formation of hair germs. The epithelial lobules were highly pigmented and affected the full thickness of the dermis, extending into the subcutaneous fat. In addition, amyloid deposits were found within the epithelial lobules and in the stroma. The overall architecture was reminiscent of hair bulbs. Problems of differential diagnosis with other trichogenic tumors and pigmented tumors are discussed.

Adipose Tissue

Eccrine angiomatous hamartoma: a multiple variant.

A case of multiple eccrine angiomatous hamartoma present in a boy since birth is reported. Clinically, this condition must be differentiated from other neonatal angiomatoses. Sometimes the clinical findings are nonspecific, whereas histologic examination may exclude angiomatoses with visceral involvement. In our case the hamartomatous nature of this tumor is documented also by the presence of pilar structures intimately related to the eccrine-angiomatous complex in one of two lesions histologically examined. Therefore, the histologic classification of eccrine angiomatous hamartoma into subgroups seems to be excessive.

Child, Preschool

Parakeratotic horns in a patient with Crohn's disease.

Horny finger-like lesions can be observed in many dermatoses. In some cases the clinical features suggest the diagnosis, but only the histological examination will confirm it. Our purpose here is to describe a case of multiple parakeratotic horns occurring in a patient with Crohn's disease.

Adult