Systemic strategies for chemoprevention of skin cancers in transplant recipients.

Background: Solid organ transplant recipients (OTRs) are a growing population at high risk for cutaneous neoplasms, resulting in significant post-transplant morbidity and mortality. Management of malignant and pre-malignant cutaneous lesions in transplant recipients is challenging, making prevention of such neoplasms paramount. The objectives of the present study are to review and analyze systemic strategies for chemoprevention of malignant and pre-malignant cutaneous neoplasms in OTRs.

Multiple atypical fibroxanthomas in a cardiac transplant recipient.

Background: Solid organ transplant recipients have an increased incidence of multiple cutaneous neoplasms.

Objective: We hope to draw attention to the potential risk for organ transplant recipients to develop atypical fibroxanthomas.

Methods: A review of the patient's medical record was performed and summarized as a case report.

Useful adjuncts to harvest split-thickness skin grafts.

Background: Split-thickness skin grafts are useful for repair of defects that are not amenable to primary closure or secondary intention healing. Because of the thinness of split-thickness skin grafts, damage to the graft and curling are common with standard harvesting techniques. Adjunctive methods for harvesting split-thickness skin grafts have not been well elucidated in the literature.

Porphyria cutanea tarda, hepatitis C, alcoholism, and hemochromatosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is associated with estrogen, certain medications, alcohol abuse, hepatitis viruses, and iron overload. Numerous studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of hepatitis C in patients with PCT; therefore, hepatitis screening should be routinely performed on these patients. On the other hand, although studies have long suspected hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) to be an underlying condition of PCT, many physicians have a low index of suspicion.

Crohn's disease of the penis masquerading as pyoderma gangrenosum: a case report and review of the literature.

Both pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and cutaneous (metastatic) Crohn's disease (CCD) may occur in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Clinical distinction between PG and CCD may be difficult because clinical and pathologic features often are similar. Although surgical debridement is therapeutic in CCD, it may lead to increased tissue loss and disease progression (pathergy) in PG.

Gangrenous cutaneous mucormycosis in a child with a solid organ transplant: a case report and review of the literature.

Infections by members of the Phycomycetes class of fungi typically arise in patients with substantial underlying immunosuppression. Several clinical presentations, including that of gangrenous cellulitis, have been described. In the pediatric population, critically ill premature newborns and older children with underlying hematopoietic malignancies and/or bone marrow transplantation are affected.

Culture and immunohistochemical evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum.

A potentially contributing factor to the development and chronicity of pyoderma gangrenosum is infection with the relatively recently characterized human pathogen, Chlamydia pneumoniae. C pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular bacterium that can infect endothelial, monocyte, and smooth muscle cells and is associated with cardiopulmonary diseases. A case of serologically, polymerase chain reaction-positive, immunohistochemically, and culture-documented viable C pneumoniae organisms in a chronic pyoderma gangrenosum ulcer is reported, a finding that has not been described previously.

Graftskin treatment of difficult to heal diabetic foot ulcers: one center's experience.

Background: Chronic diabetes-related foot ulcers result from predisposition, tissue injury, and inadequate reparative mechanisms. Standard care for diabetes-related foot ulcers includes weight off-loading, pressure-relieving footwear, aggressive surgical debridement, and frequent dressing changes. Graftskin is a recently developed living skin construct.

Familial ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum: a report of 2 kindred.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, chronic ulcerative skin disease. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, after ruling out other causes of cutaneous ulceration. The etiology of pyoderma gangrenosum is poorly understood but is likely multifactorial.