Narrow band UVB: is it effective and safe for paediatric psoriasis and atopic dermatitis?

Background: Phototherapy has a time-honoured place in the treatment of variety of skin diseases in adults. The use of this modality in children is limited mainly due to concerns about long-term carcinogenic potential. Only a few clinical trials have been performed on the efficacy and safety of phototherapy in children.

Low-dose methotrexate treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. Methotrexate (MTX) was suggested as an effective treatment option in cases of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of treatment with low weekly doses of methotrexate for moderate-to-severe AD in adults.

Silicone breast implant rupture presenting as bilateral leg nodules.

Gross migration of silicone gel from ruptured breast implants is a rare event. It is associated with extravasation of gel into the breast parenchyma, and to distant locations such as the abdominal wall and inguinal areas. This silicone deposits present as subcutaneous nodules and cause a local reaction known as siliconoma.

Ultraviolet-B treatment for cutaneous lichen planus: our experience with 50 patients.

Background: Previous small reports suggested the role of ultraviolet (UV)-B in the management of cutaneous lichen planus.

Objective: To summarize our experience with UVB in a relatively large study group looking specifically into predictive factors for complete response and the long-term relapse rates.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 50 patients with generalized cutaneous lichen planus, treated by broad or narrow band UVB.

[Thalidomide therapy for discoid lupus erythematosus].

Introduction: Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic form of cutaneous lupus. Thalidomide has been reported as an effective treatment in at least 200 cases of severe DLE. In this article we studied the efficacy and adverse effects of thalidomide in 10 patients with disseminated DLE.

Mycosis fungoides associated with B-cell malignancies.

Background: The coexistence of mycosis fungoides, a peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and B-cell malignancies or Hodgkin's lymphoma in the same patient is unusual. Most descriptions are isolated case reports and case series are strikingly sparse.

Objectives: To detect cases of mycosis fungoides associated with B-cell malignancies or Hodgkin's lymphoma and to analyse the characteristics of and the interplay between the lymphoproliferative neoplasms.

UVB in the management of early stage mycosis fungoides.

Background: Several options for treatment of early mycosis fungoides (MF) offer similar success rates. Previous small studies have shown UVB to be at least as effective as PUVA.

Objective: To summarize our experience with UVB treatment of early MF.

UVB therapy of pityriasis lichenoides--our experience with 29 patients.

Background: Pityriasis lichenoides comprises a clinical and pathological spectrum of disorders. So far no highly effective treatment has been reported. Previous small studies have suggested that ultraviolet B (UVB) is a good alternative.

Pseudorheumatoid nodules in adults: a juxta-articular form of nodular granuloma annulare.

Pseudorheumatoid nodules are considered a deep form of granuloma annulare. Most cases are described in children, occur mainly on the lower legs and scalp, and have favorable prognosis. Their appearance in adults is rare.

Insect bite-like reaction in patients with hematologic malignant neoplasms.

Background: Exaggerated reaction to insect bites, mainly to mosquitoes, is infrequently described in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Skin lesions usually appear months to years after the diagnosis of leukemia and are unrelated to laboratory findings, disease course, or therapy.

Observations: We describe 8 patients with various hematologic disorders (chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute monocytic leukemia, mantle-cell lymphoma, large-cell lymphoma, and myelofibrosis) who developed insect bite-like reaction.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma with paraproteinemia.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare skin disease mimicking necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum clinically and histologically. However, its association with paraproteinemia, and the evolution of hematologic malignancies in some cases, established NXG as a separate clinicopathologic entity. A typical case with indolent course is described.

Nodular cutaneous amyloidosis.

A nodular cutaneous amyloidosis biopsy specimen from a solitary nodule of a 75-year-old patient was characterized by amino terminal sequence analysis and was proved to be derived from immunoglobulin kIII light chain. Five years after the diagnosis of amyloidosis in the skin was made, a rectal biopsy demonstrated amyloid deposits in a blood vessel. It is suggested that nodular cutaneous amyloidosis is a slowly progressive systemic disease of the AL type, that manifest itself mainly in the skin.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with breast carcinoma.

A case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with breast carcinoma is presented. The patient had not been aware of her malignant disease and had consulted us after her dermatosis developed. To date only one case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with malignancy has been described in the literature.