PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R J Barr

Publications and source records attributed to R J Barr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Dermatofibroma with osteoclast-like giant cells.

Dermatofibroma (DF), or cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma, is a common cutaneous tumor with many variants that may arise from alterations in the morphology and composition of its various components. One type that has not received much attention is DF with osteoclast-like giant cells. Two cases of this rare tumor are described. The importance of this tumor lies in the possible histologic confusion with a variety of benign and malignant neoplasms, including giant cell tumor of tendon sheath, giant cell tumor of bone, and giant cell reparative granuloma.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Pleomorphic lipoma. Case reports and review of the literature.

Two patients are reported with pleomorphic lipoma, a benign subcutaneous fatty tumor showing atypia in which histologic diagnosis may be difficult. The tumors are well circumscribed lesions, most commonly occurring in the neck and shoulder of middle aged men. An important histologic criteria is the presence of floret-like multinucleated giant cells embedded in a myxoid stroma. Pleomorphic lipoma may be confused with several malignant soft-tissue neoplasms, including myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma and variants of liposarcoma. It is important to establish the correct diagnosis to avoid unnecessary radical surgery.

Forehead↗
PubMed1991

Signet ring cell basal cell carcinoma.

A 63-year-old man presented with a signet ring cell basal cell carcinoma of the right infraorbital area. This is the third reported case of this rare variant of basal cell carcinoma characterized by tumor cells containing large, hyalinized, eccentric, intracytoplasmic inclusions that compress nuclei into crescent or ring-shaped forms. Antibodies to both high and low molecular weight cytokeratins were strongly positive, staining the inclusions in a uniform fashion. Vimentin and actin antibodies did not stain the inclusions. These results support previous electron microscopic studies that show the inclusions to be aggregates of intermediate filaments blending into tonofilaments at their periphery. Although speculative, the formation of signet ring cells does not appear to be a degenerative or necrotic phenomenon, but probably a peculiar aberrant form of individual cell keratinization.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗
PubMed1991

A rapid method for the cytodiagnosis of multibacillary leprosy.

The diagnosis of leprosy is made clinically with histologic and cytologic confirmation. The traditional methods for making the cytologic diagnosis of leprosy take time and training, making them unsuitable for rapid office use. We describe a simple, rapid method for cytologic confirmation of the diagnosis of multibacillary leprosy using slit skin scrapings.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Transient neonatal pustular melanosis.

A Mexican-American boy presented at birth with an extensive eruption consisting of 0.5 to 1.0 cm hyperpigmented macules with a distinct peripheral scale involving primarily the forearms, abdomen and lower back (Fig. 1). Rare intact vesicopustules were also identified. There was an unremarkable prenatal history, and the infant was a product of a normal vaginal delivery. With the exception of the skin lesions and moderate hepatosplenomegaly, the physical examination was normal. Gram stains of the pustules showed numerous neutrophils but no bacteria. Bacterial cultures, of the skin and blood, TORCH screen (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalic virus, and herpes virus) and a VDRL were negative. On the second day of life, the patient developed several pustules with surrounding erythema consistent with erythema toxicum neonatorum. Wright-stained smears of these lesions showed abundant eosinophils. Hepatosplenomegaly resolved by the third day of life and at the time of discharge only hyperpigmented macules persisted. Follow-up visit six weeks later showed no evidence of skin lesions.

Erythema↗
PubMed1979

Fibrous hamartoma of infancy.

Fibrous hamartoma of infancy is a type of juvenile fibromatosis which is either present at birth or develops before two years of age. If one is not familiar with this histological pattern, it could be mistaken for a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm. We describe the characteristic clinical and microscopic features.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1979

Syringometaplasia: mucinous and squamous variants.

The eccrine sweat ducts are normally lined by cuboidal epithelial cells which may rarely undergo metaplasia, i.e. syringometaplasia. Two lesions were observed in which eccrine sweat ducts displayed the mucinous and squamous variants of syringometaplasia. The first lesion clinically and histologically appeared to be a plantar wart. Microscopically, it consisted of a central invagination surrounded by marked epidermal acanthosis and hyperkeratosis. The invagination was lined by keratinocytes admixed with mucin-filled goblet cells. The mucin was positive by the Alcian blue (pH 2.5) and mucicarmine stains. Numerous eccrine sweat ducts led into the invagination and were focally lined by the mucin-laden cells. Recognition of mucinous syringometaplasia is important since it may be confused with primary or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the skin. The second lesion occurred on the outer ear and was clinically believed to be chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis. Microscopically, there were many islands of atypical squamous cells within the papillary and reticular dermis. These epithelial islands represented squamous syringometaplasia since many contained central lumina with eosinophilic cuticles and blended with normal ductal structures. It is important not to confuse this metaplastic change with invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous syringometaplasia may be analogous to necrotizing sialometaplasia, a recently described phenomenon which occurs in minor salivary glands.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1979

Granular cell basal cell carcinoma. A distinct histopathologic entity.

In two cases of basal cell carcinoma with prominent granular cell features, light microscopic examination showed a tumor with the general configuration of a nodular basal cell carcinoma. Focally, there were masses of cells with eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm and large cytoplasmic inclusions, strongly suggestive of granular cell myoblastoma. Ultrastructural observations in one case showed numerous lysosome-like organelles that were similar to those described for granular cell myoblastoma, but were identical to those described for the granular cell variant of ameloblastoma, a tumor that frequently resembles basal cell carcinoma. Additional features included tonofilaments and desmosomes, both of which support an epithelial origin for the granular cells in this rare variant of basal cell carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Verrucous ulcerative skin lesions in sarcoidosis. An unusual clinical presentation.

A twenty-seven year old man with a two year history of sarcoidosis and systemic manifestations of this disease along with verrucous ulcerative skin lesions is presented. Biopsy specimens of the cutaneous lesions showed typical noncaseating granulomas as well as necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. After other possible etiologies were excluded, prednisone therapy was instituted with prompt resolution of the skin lesions, leaving atrophic scars.

Adult↗