Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Betti.
Collagenomas are connective tissue nevi of the skin consisting of excessive deposition of collagen in the dermis. We describe a patient with acquired eruptive collagenomas located on both ears. Histologically, thickening of the dermis, caused by collagen deposition was present.
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A 24-year-old woman with a 3 year history of Blaschkitis is presented. The dermatosis consisted of erythematous vesicular papules following Blaschko's lines on her left trunk. A moderate itching was described by the patient initially. Resolution occurred spontaneously after 3 months with hypopigmentation. Histological examination demonstrated a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate in the subpapillary dermis with lymphocytic exocytosis.
BACKGROUND: Factors associated with the development of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are radiation exposure, sunlight, trauma, and burns. OBJECTIVE: We wish to further document the relationship between the development of BCCs and previous diathermic exposure for therapeutical purposes. Moreover, we compared the histological subtypes of BCCs developed in patients with or without previous therapy. METHODS: A retrospective study of 1053 patients with BCCs seen at our dermatologic clinic was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had histories of diathermic therapy for different osteoarticular problems. The interval of time between the treatments and the appearance of the tumor was 12-31 years. The histologic subtypes involved were the same of other BCCs on the same areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the association of BCCs and diathermic therapy in the development of the tumor of the previously treated areas. Histological subtypes do not seem to be affected by environmental factors but are a characteristic of the site location of the tumor.
We report a case of accessory mammary tissue of type 2a (or polythelia) entirely localized within a Becker's naevus of mixed type in a 32-year-old Caucasian woman. Polythelia was congenital in origin while Becker's naevus appeared during puberty. Renal ultrasonographic studies, laboratory examinations and other instrumental investigations were either normal or negative. Although the association of accessory mammary tissue with Becker's naevus has previously been reported--also in the form of mammorenal and acromammorenal syndromes--this is the first case characterized by an anatomic overlap between the two anomalies. It may be the expression of a common disturbance acting early in embryogenesis in the specific developmental fields involved.
A case of a single molluscum contagiosum occurring on the surface of a preexisting soft fibroma in an adult patient is reported. The most common clinical form of this viral lesion is multiple grouping papules with a central umbilication and its histologic feature is characteristic. Previous cases of mollusca combining with other lesions have been rarely described. Our lesion was probably due to its localization on the soft fibroma, whose exophytic growing represented a favoring factor for trauma and the consequent occurrence of the viral disease.
In hair germ tumors, hair follicle development is partially or completely recapitulated. The trichoblastoma represents a purely epithelial tumour within this group of tumours. We identified a trichoblastoma showing exclusively adenocystic features in a 32 years old woman. This variant has been very rarely described in the literature. We review the history of hair germ tumors and discuss the problems of their classification.
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BACKGROUND: The concept of unusual site for a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has to be defined because there is much confusion about it. Basal cell carcinomas of covered areas of the body are sometimes considered as unusual because of their location. In this study an attempt is made to define what is an unusual site for a BCC according to experience and the problems encountered are briefly discussed. METHODS: A total of 1050 histologically-confirmed primary BCCs were studied. Age, sex and site of presentation were considered. RESULTS: Eighteen cases were recorded, localized on hand, axilla, areola or nipple, buttock perineal, and genital regions. CONCLUSIONS: Unusual location has been arbitrarily defined in the past according to the incidental percentage, to a mathematical index of density, to the literature reports. All these criteria suffer more or less from some discrepancy, but in our opinion all these should be considered for a definition. Our results, moreover, suggest that only the above described sites should be considered.
We report an 18-year-old boy with a congenital pigmented lesion measuring 2 x 6 cm on his right thigh. About a third of the lesion was composed of numerous lentiginous macules superimposed on histologically normal and clinically nontan skin; in the remainder of the lesion, several macules and papules with histologic features of junctional and compound nevi were superimposed on clinically normal skin, which had a lentiginous pattern histologically. Some years later, eruptive intradermal Spitz nevi developed at one corner of the lesion. The combined clinical and histological features of the lesion fulfill descriptions for both segmental lentiginosis and an unusual variant of speckled lentiginous nevus. Our case points out the limitations of using strict diagnostic criteria to define speckled lentiginous nevus and offers an opportunity to consider the natural history of the lesion as a continuum from lentigines to melanocytic nevi. Moreover, the presence of eruptive intradermal Spitz nevi arising within the area of speckled lentiginous nevus lacking a distinct tan background, suggests the possibility that the entire area of the lesion per se constitutes an environment where development of nevi is enhanced.
A 71-year-old woman presented with multiple, flesh-colored, papular lesions on the left dorsal side of the hand which had erupted 5 years earlier. No cafè-au-lait spots, freckles, or Lisch nodules were detected. Family history did not disclose neurofibromas or abnormal pigmentation. Two biopsy specimens of the lesions showed circumscribed, non-encapsulated neurofibromas. Segmental neurofibromatosis is characterized by the unilateral, segmental appearance of neurofibromas and/or cafè-au-lait spots in the absence of genetic transmission. The authors discuss the significance of localized multiple cutaneous neurofibromas in the absence of family history and suggest the possibility of a cutaneous hamartoma.
Four cases of giant basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are reported and the problems of giant BCCs are briefly discussed. In particular, we consider the relationship between the size of the tumor and its clinical behaviour. The importance of the site location in tumor development the histologic subtypes involved, the associated findings, and problems of treatment are also discussed.
Agminate and plaque-type blue nevi are rarely described. We report the occurrence of such a type of blue nevus associated with eccrine changes and a follicular cyst all arising on a macular brown background in a 38-year-old man. The patient presented numerous blue papules and a plaque, overlapping a light tan patch present since birth, on his left thigh. In addition, within the plaque, 3 papules, discharging at intervals a serous fluid, were present. Since the lesion hardened and enlarged, it was surgically excised. Histologic findings revealed a lentigo pattern of the epidermis, corresponding to the light tan macular background and a plaque-type blue nevus, and areas of eccrine ductal proliferations with a ruptured follicular cyst. The association of agminate and plaque-type blue nevus, arising on a light brown patch of lentigo, might represent a variant of speckled lentiginous nevus. Eccrine proliferations may be reactive in nature or represent a more complex hamartomatous lesion. The possibility of malignant transformation and the recent enlargement of the lesion caused by the ruptured follicular cyst convinced us to carry out a wide surgical excision.
Titanium dioxide is a brilliant white, nontoxic pigment. It is used worldwide to obtain vivid whites, clean tints, and brillant colors in paints, lacquers, printing inks, plastics, rubber, floorings, paper, fibers, cosmetics, vitreous applications, and other industries. It can be produced through two industrial routes: the sulfate or the chloride process. Whatever production route is used, it produces effluents during the process. In the past, such effluents were freely discharged into the environment (air, water, land) without special care. Today, environmental legislation requires specific treatments and sets strict limits, often differing from country to country. We present a case of a TiO2 plant, located in central Italy (Tuscany), where several steps have been taken during the last 20 years concerning the effluent treatment to become one of the more advanced examples of total treatment in the TiO2 industry worldwide. Details are presented concerning the treatment systems for gaseous, liquid, and solids effluents.
Polythelia (supernumerary nipple) provides a clue to congenital and hereditary malformations of the kidney and the urinary collecting system. It is also regarded as a cutaneous paraneoplastic marker because of the significant association with urogenital malignancies. A 38-year-old man with sporadic left supernumerary nipple without evidence of ear, facies, or gonadal defects or lateral displacement of the nipples was routinely examined for the presence of renal anomalies. Investigation revealed left polycystic kidney disease with adenocarcinoma in the upper pole. The nephrocutaneous defects and renal malignancy showed a peculiar ipsilaterality. The overlap between polythelia, polycystic kidney disease with adenocarcinoma in the upper pole. The nephrocutaneous defects and renal malignancy showed a peculiar ipsilaterality. The overlap between polythelia, polycystic kidney, and renal adenocarcinoma may provide a further clue to the embryonal origin of this cancer.
We report a cutaneous tumor characterized by follicular differentiation and adamantinoid features that we consider to be part of the histopathologic spectrum of trichoblastoma. Previously, similar lesions have been reported in the medical literature as cutaneous lymphadenoma or lymphoepithelial tumor of the skin.
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