Facial Papules in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Beyond Vellus Hair Follicle Involvement

Background

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is considered a variant of lichen planopilaris affecting mainly the frontotemporal hairline. Since the first report in 1994, several other clinical features have been associated with the disease, such as facial papules (FP). Even though FP have been linked to facial vellus hair follicle involvement, how this finding alone could lead to the formation of clinically evident FP in FFA patients had not yet been addressed.

Objective

To describe histopathological findings of FP in the context of FFA and to highlight features that may be linked to their clinical formation.

Methods

Cutaneous FP biopsies of FFA patients performed between January 2016 and May 2017 were retrieved from our pathology database and reexamined by 2 pathologists.

Results

Histological sections of thirteen 3.0-mm punch biopsy specimens (2 horizontally and 11 vertically oriented) were collected from 7 patients. Eleven specimens demonstrated prominent sebaceous glands and 10 dilated sebaceous ducts. Pinkus acid orcein staining revealed reduction and fragmentation of the elastic fibers in 12 samples and, in 7 of these, this finding was observed in both the papillary and reticular dermis, particularly around sebaceous lobules. Vellus hair follicle involvement was only seen in 2 samples.

Conclusions

Prominent sebaceous lobules with dilated ducts associated with an abnormal elastic framework seem to be the main explanation for the formation of FP in the context of FFA.

Hemosiderotic dermatofibroma

We report a rare clinical case of hemosiderotic dermatofibroma in a 36-year-old female patient. The main dermatoscopic finding was represented by homogeneous blue-gray pigmentation. The aim of this report is to demonstrate the rarity of the lesion and the dermatoscopic importance it assumes by sharing a blue-gray homogeneous pattern with other benign and malignant lesions.

Histopathological diagnosis of small melanocytic lesions suspicious for malignant melanoma

The concern about malignant skin neoplasms leads to the excision of smaller lesions. This study on small melanocytic lesions aims to evaluate the range of possible histopathological diagnoses, describe histopathological aspects, and assess the usefulness of serial histological sections. We performed a cross-sectional descriptive histopathological study examining 76 pigmented skin lesions up to 6 mm in diameter. Histopathological diagnoses included atypical melanocytic nevi (n=38), common melanocytic nevi (n=18), atypical lentiginous melanocytic hyperplasia with architectural features of atypical melanocytic nevi (n=7), lentigo simplex (n=2), and malignant melanoma (n=1). Ten cases were non-diagnostic. Cytological atypia was not an exclusive finding of atypical lesions. Examination of serial sections did not change histopathological impression. Early detection of malignant melanoma is important, but clinical and dermoscopy exams may be leading to the resection of a great number of benign lesions. Strict attention to histopathological criteria results in a large number of non-diagnostic cases.

Primary isolated osteoma cutis of the face

We report a healthy, 44-year-old woman presenting with an at least a 20-year history of hardened papules in the forehead region, extending to the scalp. The biopsy and histopathologic exam confirmed a diagnosis of osteoma cutis. We review the literature review and discuss the classification of the cutaneous ossification process presented, along with the results of the surgical treatment.

Onychomatricoma: A Case Report with 5-year Follow-up

The authors present a case of onychomatricoma, a rare benign tumour of the nail matrix, first described by Baran and Kint in 1992. The lesion appeared on the proximal nail fold, covering half the nail of the second left finger. The nail was thickened and yellowish with longitudinal melanonychia. It was surgically removed with very satisfactory aesthetic results even after 5 years. A review on the subject is also presented.

Dermatomyositis-Part 2: Diagnosis, Association With Malignancy, and Treatment

In this second part of the series on dermatomyositis, the diagnosis and its criteria with review of autoantibodies, capillaroscopy, imaging exams, histopathology, muscle biopsy, electroneuromyography, and muscular enzymes will be assessed. The association with malignancy, since it is described as paraneoplasic, will be discussed. The different therapeutic options for this disease will also be reported, including for dystrophic calcification, a rare and late complication of dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis--Part 1: Definition, Epidemiology, Etiology and Pathogenesis, and Clinics

Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that affects the skin, muscles, and blood vessels. The prevailing clinical manifestations are intense erythema, typically around the eyes and dorsum of the hands, accompanied by proximal muscle weakness. There is one clinical form, called amyopathic dermatomyositis, which lacks muscular symptoms and laboratory evidence of muscle damage.

Dermatoscopic Findings of Seborrheic Keratosis in Melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma may in some instances be confused with seborrheic keratosis, which is a very common neoplasia, more often mistaken for actinic keratosis and verruca vulgaris. Melanoma may clinically resemble seborrheic keratosis and should be considered as its possible clinical simulator. We report a case of melanoma with dermatoscopic characteristics of seborrheic keratosis and emphasize the importance of the dermatoscopy algorithm in differentiating between a melanocytic and a non-melanocytic lesion, of the excisional biopsy for the establishment of the diagnosis of cutaneous tumors, and of the histopathologic examination in all surgically removed samples.

Photoaging and the clinical utility of fractional laser

The description of atomic structure by Niels Bohr set the basis for the emergence of quantum physics. Based on these fundamentals, Einstein published in 1917 a paper on the amplification of energy by Stimulated Emission of Radiation as part of his quantum theories. In 1955, Townes and Gordon turned Einstein’s theories into practice, creating a coherent and amplified microwave device using ammonia gas in an optical medium. But it was at the beginning of the 1980s, that Anderson and Parrish published an article about the selective photothermolysis model which revolutionized clinical practice. The use of laser in photoaging began with CO₂ (10,600 nm). In 1989, it was first used for resurfacing of a face with prominent photoaging. Ablative lasers have therefore had great popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, but prolonged postoperative time and significant risk of side effects have lowered the acceptance by patients. In 2004, the description of the fractionated radiation for the treatment of photoaging, by Mainstein, represented a great event. The stimulation of collagen occurred through fractional laser beams, which would reach the selected area while saving islands of sound skin. These islands accelerated the process of cicatrization of the treated tissue and shortened the postprocedure time. Furthermore, the fractionated radiation presented a smaller range of side effects, increasing the safety of the procedure. As mentioned earlier, as fractional lasers incise on the skin, they leave islands of healthy skin that accelerate recovery, while generating necrosis columns. Such necrosis columns remove damaged extracellular matrix material, allowing resettlement of fibroblasts. Such resettled fibroblasts, under the influence of a new tensile strength, restart to produce structures for extracellular matrix, such as collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans, in a more physiological way. Fractional lasers are considered by many dermatologists as the best choice in laser therapy for the treatment of photoaging.

Oral isotretinoin in photoaging: objective histological evidence of efficacy and durability

BACKGROUND

The off-label use of oral isotretinoin in photoaging is a therapeutic tool that has been used by dermatologists. There are few studies to corroborate its effectiveness and durability.

OBJECTIVES

To assess, both clinically and histologically, the changes caused by the use of oral isotretinoin in skin photoaging as well as the duration of the effects.

METHODS

20 female patients, aged 45-50 years, with phototypes II-VI, none of whom had experienced menopause, were treated with 20mg oral isotretinoin, 3 days a week, for 12 weeks. They underwent clinical analysis and skin biopsies in the pre-auricular region, while histologic cuts enabled assessment of the solar elastosis level and morphologic analysis.

RESULTS

Clinically, patients, as well as the researching and the assessor physicians, noticed improvement in skin quality. One patient presented severe solar elastosis, 11 manifested the moderate form, while 8 presented the discreet type. According to histological analysis, 65% of the patients revealed alteration in the distribution and thickness of the elastic fibers, which can be interpreted as a histological improvement, while 60% showed an increase in collagen density. We observed an increase in collagen density, from 51.2% to 57.4%, (p=0.004). At the end of the 12-week follow-up period, this density decreased to 54.7% (p=0.050). There was an increase in the density of elastic fibers, from 26.5% to 31.3%, (p=0.02), which had dropped to 27.5% at the end of the 12-week follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirmed the role of oral isotretinoin in remodeling the extracellular matrix against photoaging, as well as its durability after 12 weeks, especially when we consider collagen fibers.

Cutaneous Metastasis of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma with Unknown Primary Site: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report a new case of neuroendocrine carcinoma for which it was not possible to find the primary site until now. The recent medical literature about skin metastasis of neuroendocrine carcinoma (neuroendocrine tumor) is discussed.

Psoriasiform Eruption Secondary to the Use of Adalimumab

Induced psoriasiform eruption, especially by anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha, was a rather rare event but nowadays cases are increasing because of its prescription for many different diseases. There are several clinical forms; one example is the pustulosis form presented in this case report.

Granulomatous reaction to red tattoo pigment treated with allopurinol

Granulomatous reactions to tattoo ink are most commonly associated with mercury sulfide, a component of red pigments. Treatment options show limited results. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, has been reported as a successful alternative treatment to granulomatous disorders, such as sarcoidosis and granulomatous reactions to fillers and tattoos. We report a case of granulomatous reaction to red tattoo pigment treated with allopurinol for 6 months. Good clinical improvement could be noticed during this time. Two months after we stopped the treatment, the lesion recurred. Allopurinol emerges as an important drug for the management of granulomatous reactions caused by tattoo pigments. Based on the significant clinical improvement noticed during its use, we recommend new studies to elucidate all the potential benefits of the use of allopurinol for the treatment of granulomatous reactions to tattoo ink.

Cutaneous Manifestations in POEMS Syndrome: Case Report and Review

The authors report a case of sensorimotor polyneuropathy, diffuse cutaneous hyperpigmentation, skin sclerodermiform thickening and papular lesions in the infraclavicular and abdominal region. Besides weight loss, there were diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism. The alterations were consistent with POEMS (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy and Skin changes) syndrome, which is a rare systemic disease with monoclonal proliferation of plasmacytes and slow progression. Cutaneous alterations are present in 68% of patients with diffuse cutaneous hyperpigmentation, plethora and acrocyanosis. Leukonychia, necrotizing vasculitis, hypertrichosis and cutaneous thickening of sclerodermiform type are also cited. The onset of multiple cutaneous angiomas in this syndrome has been observed in 24-44% of patients.

Basal cell carcinoma arising on a verrucous epidermal nevus: a case report

We report a case of basal cell carcinoma that appeared from an epidermal verrucous nevus in a 61-year-old patient. The onset of basal cell carcinoma in sebaceous nevi, basal cell nevi and dysplastic nevi is relatively common, but it is rarely associated with epidermal verrucous nevi. There is no consensus on whether the two lesions have a common cellular origin or whether they merely represent a collision of two distinct tumors. Since this association – as with other malignant tumors – is rare, there is no need for prophylactic removal of epidermal verrucous nevi.

Oleoma treated with oral colchicine: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Oleoma is a non-allergic, foreign body type granulomatous reaction. It appears as response to oily exogenous substances injected to the dermis or subcutis for aesthetical purposes. Treatment for localized lesions is surgical. When they are multiple, steroids may show some result. Newer therapeutic possibilities are being introduced and colchicine constitutes an alternative that is financially accessible and safe in moderate doses for certain dermatological illnesses. We present two women with oleoma on the legs treated with oral colchicine. This option was due to the extension of the clinical picture, which would not have a good surgical outcome. There was significant improvement in one patient, while we had to interrupt the medication in the other because of side effects.

Cylindroma: an update

This paper reviews the recent literature on cylindroma, a rare tumor originating from the cutaneous adnexal structures of the scalp and face. Benign cylindroma is more frequent in women, and there are solitary and multiple forms, which are autosomal. Malignant cylindroma can occur in the Brooke-Spiegler syndrome, and malignant transformation is more frequent in multiple variants than in solitary tumors. Its histopathological basis is controversial, and its origin is unknown, although it is known that there is a genetic basis for onset of these tumors in Brooke-Spiegler syndrome.

Fractional Erbium laser in the treatment of photoaging: randomized comparative, clinical and histopathological study of ablative (2940nm) vs. non-ablative (1540nm) methods after 3 months

BACKGROUND

Fractional non-ablative lasers keep the epidermis intact, while fractional ablative lasers remove it, making them theoretically more effective.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical and histological alterations induced by fractional photothermolysis for treating photoaging, comparing the possible equivalence of multiple sessions of 1540nm Erbium, to one session of 2940nm Erbium.

METHODS

Eighteen patients (mean age 55.9) completed the treatment with three sessions of 1540nm fractional Erbium laser on one side of the face (50 mJ/mB, 15ms, 2 passes), and one session of 2940nm on the other side (5mJ/mB, 0.25ms, 2 passes). Biopsies were performed before and 3 months after treatment. Clinical, histological and morphometric evaluations were carried out.

RESULTS

All patients presented clinical improvement with no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) between the treated sides. Histopathology revealed a new organization of collagen and elastic fibers, accompanied by edema, which was more evident with the 2940nm laser. This finding was confirmed by morphometry, which showed a decrease in collagen density for both treatments, with a statistical significance for the 2940nm laser (p > 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Three 1540nm sessions were clinically equivalent to one 2940nm session. The edema probably contributed to the positive results after three months, togheter with the new collagen and elastic fibers organization. The greater edema after the 2940nm session indicates that dermal remodeling takes longer than with 1540nm. It is possible that this histological superiority relates to a more prolonged effect, but a cohort longer than three months is needed to confirm that supposition.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a case report

We present a typical case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with local recurrence 2 months after surgery and, motivated by this patient, make a review of the most important aspects. This is a rare tumor and we call special attention to the fact that its recurrence is extremely frequent, so there is absolute need to observe these patients periodically after surgery.

Immunohistochemical detection of the latent nuclear antigen-1 of the human herpesvirus type 8 to differentiate cutaneous epidemic Kaposi sarcoma and its histological simulators

Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common neoplasia diagnosed in AIDS patients and the expression of the human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) latent nuclear antigen-1 has been useful for its histological diagnosis. The aim of this study is to confirm that immunohistochemistry is a valuable tool for differentiating KS from its simulators in skin biopsies of HIV patients. Immunohistochemical and histological analyses were performed in 49 Kaposi's sarcoma skin biopsies and 60 of its histological simulators. Positivity was present in the 49 Kaposi's sarcoma skin biopsies and no staining was observed in the 60 simulators analyzed, resulting in sensibility and specificity of 100%. HHV-8 immunohistochemical detection is an effective tool for diagnosing Kaposi's sarcoma, especially in early lesions in which neoplastic features are not evident. It also contributes to its histological differential diagnosis.