Malignant melanoma and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Two patients with Charco-Marie-Tooth disease subsequently developed cutaneous malignant melanoma. This constellation of diseases may be due to chance, but raises the possibility of a shared neural crest defect or genetic linkage.

Relapsing polychondritis. Immunomicroscopic findings in cartilage of ear biopsy specimens

Two cases of relapsing polychondritis are reported. Direct immunofluorescence examination of ear biopsy specimens in both patients showed the presence of granular deposits of immunoglobulins and the C3 component of complement at the chondrofibrous junction. These findings suggest that immunomicroscopic examination of ear cartilage could be diagnostically useful in this disease.

Acanthoma fissuratum. Histopathology and review of the literature

A review of the literature and report of a case describing perhaps the youngest and first black patient recorded in whom bilateral lesions of acanthoma fissuratum developed and were successfully treated with intralesional corticosteroids is presented herein. Awareness of the clinical characteristics of this benign process can prevent potentially costly and needless diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Fiber implantation for pattern baldness

Examination of 20 patients who had fiber implantation for the treatment of pattern baldness showed that nearly all the fibers had fallen out by ten weeks. Complications observed were facial swelling, infection, foreign-body granulomas, scarring, and permanent hair loss. Scanning electron microscopy identified the fibers as modacrylic fibers. The complications, high monetary cost, and ultimate futility of fiber implantation make it an unacceptable procedure.

Sézary syndrome

A case of Sézary syndrome is presented and the clinical, histologic, and laboratory findings are reviewed.

Treatment with benzoyl peroxide of ulcers on legs within lesions of necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum

A lotion of 20% benzoyl peroxide was applied to ulcers on legs from necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. The ulcers healed rapidly and uneventfully, leaving firm, yellow scars. The efficacy and simplicity of use of topical benzoyl peroxide therapy is discussed.

Diffuse hair loss in women

In summary, the presenting signs of diffuse hair loss was thinning of the scalp hair with associated receding of frontal and temporal hairlines. The majority of patients experienced telogen efflivium between the ages of twenty and sixty years. The hair loss could be classified according to the multiple presumptive etiologic factors; hereditary, hormonal, or systemic disorders, drugs, nutritional deficits, neoplasms, physical and chemical trauma, and psychological disorders. Of the 129 women evaluated, 30 percent had concomitant systemic disorders or precipitating causes. This report stresses the importance of a full hiar loss evaluation and an attempt to identify the etiologic factors or disease states that may precipitate or exacerbate an existing condition such as androgenic alopecia. It is hoped that the outlines for the initial history and examination presented in this report will help to direct the physician's evaluation of hair loss problems in women.

Pyoderma gangrenosum responsive to minocycline hydrochloride

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a characteristic ulcerative condition of unknown etiology. Four cases are reported of patients with PG who responded to minocycline hydrochloride therapy. Possible mechanisms for this apparently efficacious modality are discussed.

Histopathologic changes in skin after photochemotherapy

In summary, PUVA therapy is an exciting, acceptable, and effective therapy for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. The histologic changes in the skin secondary to PUVA therapy appeared to be an accentuated solar damage of skin. Whether this therapy also enhances the incidence of skin cancers will be answered only by continued observation of these treated patients. The fear of all those engaged in PUVA therapy is that the potentiation of cutaneous neoplasia will not be recognized for many years, as was the case in superficial x-ray therapy. Obviously, careful monitoring of PUVA patients and their clinical response will help reduce UVA exposure as well as decrease the amount of psoralen ingested, and may indeed avoid the prolonged use of PUVA therapy and hopefully lessen the potential longterm cutaneous changes and possible superficial skin cancers.

Skin diseases of football and wrestling participants

This discussion has highlighted some of the cutaneous disorders that are found in football and wrestling participants in an exaggerated form. These disorders may occur in any person, of course, and are not limited to football or wrestling participants. Also, football and wrestling participants may have any cutaneous disorder; their disorders are not limited to those mentioned in this review. The dermatologist should be alert to contagous disorders in these participants, especially because of the close contact their activities necessitate and the potential epidemic spread of these disorders. One must also be alert to the possibility that a condition may be masked by the minor trauma of the sport. It is re-emphasized that these disorders are exaggerated because of the increased perspiration, heat, friction, secretion of fatty acids, body contact, special gear, climatic conditions, and trauma. Fortunately, the participants are normally healthy individuals who respond quickly to the appropriate therapy.

Tumor cell characterization of histiocytic medullary reticulosis

Tumor cells from a 10-year-old boy was suspected histiocytic medullary reticulosis were examined and were found to have receptor sites for complement, the ability to phagocytize latex beads, and the electron microscopical picture of immature histiocytes. These findings strongly support the diagnosis of histiocytic medullary reticulosis. This disorder and the method of examination of the tumor cells are discussed.