Minimal stage IA mycosis fungoides. Results of radiotherapy in 15 patients.

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) minimal disease stage IA, characterized by one or few close lesions (up to four), has been considered a distinct entity with a favourable prognosis, where local treatment such as radiotherapy could afford long-lasting remissions.

Objective: To review our experience in radiologic treatment of this subset of the disease and compare our results with those reported in the literature.

Methods: Fifteen patients presenting with MF minimal disease were treated with localized superficial X-ray therapy, with a total median dose of 22 Gy.

Radiotherapy of classic and human immunodeficiency virus-related Kaposi's sarcoma: results in 1482 lesions.

Background: The lesions of the various forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), which are relatively radiosensitive, have been treated with different modalities of radiotherapy, with heterogeneous aims and results.

Objective: To verify the effectiveness and safety of radiotherapy on a large number of lesions endowed (classic KS) with a prolonged follow-up.

Methods: A retrospective study was done on 711 lesions of classic KS and 771 lesions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related KS, treated with traditional X-ray therapy.

Photoprotective activity of oral polypodium leucotomos extract in 25 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses.

Background: The incidences of idiopathic photodermatoses (IP) are increasing and the available therapeutic methods are often inadequate.

Aim: To evaluate whether, in subjects affected by IP not responding to the usual available therapies, the oral administration of an extract of Polypodium leucotomos (PL) could provide an effective photoprotective activity.

Methods: 26 patients with polymorphic light eruption and two with solar urticaria were recruited to enter the study.

Cutaneous granulomatous reaction to injectable hyaluronic acid gel.

Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) derivatives are the most used reabsorbable dermal fillers for soft tissue augmentation today and their utilization is considered safe. We report a cutaneous granulomatous reaction that developed in a woman 5 weeks after the first treatment with a nonanimal HA derivative for the correction of facial wrinkling. We describe the clinicopathological findings and course of the cutaneous reaction.

Sclerodermic linear lupus panniculitis: report of two cases.

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis is a rare disease characterized by deep subcutaneous nodules, most commonly localized on the upper limbs and face. Unique clinical presentations, such as linear configuration or 'overlap' forms between lupus erythematosus panniculitis and localized scleroderma have been reported. We present here the clinical characteristics, course and laboratory findings of 2 patients having linear lupus erythematosus panniculitis with localized scleroderma-like changes.

Primary cutaneous follicular center cell lymphoma of the nose with maxillary sinus involvement in a pediatric patient.

We report a primary cutaneous follicular center cell lymphoma (PCFCCL) that arose on the nose and the left naso-labial fold, spread to the left cheek, the left maxillary sinus, and the soft palate in a 16-year-old boy. Polychemotherapy was performed and the patient is disease-free after 41 months. This case is unusual because PCFCCL rarely arises on the nose, only occasionally disseminates to extracutaneous sites, and, to our knowledge, has never been described in pediatric patients.

Anetodermic lupus panniculitis and antiphospholipid antibodies: report of three cases.

Anetoderma is a rare cutaneous disease characterized by a loss of normal elastic tissue that is presented clinically as localized areas of wrinkled or flaccid skin. This form may be associated with several immunological abnormalities, most notably lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibodies with or without clinical manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome. A retrospective study was conducted with the aim of summarizing the clinical characteristics, course and laboratory findings in three women with anetoderma-associated lupus erythematosus panniculitis, an unusual variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Elephantoid oedema of the eyelids.

We describe a male patient with rosacea who had a 2-year history of persistent bilateral oedema of the eyelids, leading to an elephantoid condition with blepharoptosis. An upper eyelid blepharoplasty was performed, but swelling progressively recurred over a few months. Based on the case history, clinical appearance and histological findings, rosaceous lymphoedema was considered to be the diagnosis.

Review of 120 biopsies performed on the balanopreputial sac. from zoon's balanitis to the concept of a wider spectrum of inflammatory non-cicatricial balanoposthitis.

Background: Long-lasting erythematous lesions involving the balanopreputial sac may be clinically difficult to classify, and biopsies may be performed in order to clarify the nature of the disease. However, our previous experience led us to consider several cases as histopathologically unclassifiable.

Objective: To establish the causes of such unsatisfactory findings.

Possibility of treating basal cell carcinomas of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome with superficial x-ray therapy.

Background: The nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, is a rare dermatological disease inherited according to an autosomal dominant pattern. From the dermatological point of view, the most evident characteristic of the syndrome is the early onset of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). An ideal treatment of BCCs of the NBCCS does not exist.

Radiotherapy of carcinomas of the skin overlying the cartilage of the nose: results in 405 lesions.

The skin overlying the nose cartilage is a particularly frequent localization of skin carcinomas, for which it is of great practical interest to identify the best therapy, able to combine effectiveness with a good cosmetic and functional result. To this aim a retrospective study was performed regarding 405 basal and squamous cell carcinomas treated by kilovoltage radiotherapy in the period 1972-2002. The total dose of ionizing radiation administered ranged from 40 to 85 Gy, with different dose fractionations, according to the technique employed.

Poikilodermatous subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Background: Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a distinct subset of lupus erythematosus with unique clinical, immunological and genetic features. Among the unusual variants of SCLE, there is a poikilodermic presentation. However, to date, only 1 case of poikilodermatous SCLE has been reported.

Cutaneous infection caused by Salmonella typhi.

Salmonella typhi is a flagellated, gram-negative bacillus belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae responsible for typhoid fever, which is a prolonged bacteraemic, systemic illness with minimal, at least initially, diarrhoea. Localized infection is a not uncommon complication of salmonella septicaemia, particularly occurring in immunocompromised patients. However, salmonella localization to the skin presenting as cutaneous ulceration is regarded as a rare event.

Nitrendipine-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

A 66-year-old man presented with widespread annular and bullous subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), developed after starting treatment for hypertension with the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine. A few days after withdrawal of the drug, while cutaneous manifestations were improving, left hemiparesis occurred. Laboratory investigations showed, in addition to anti-Ro, anti-La and anti-histone antibodies, the presence of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, prolonged APTT and thrombocytopenia.

Localized scleroderma in adults and children. Clinical and laboratory investigations on 239 cases.

We examined, retrospectively, 239 patients (113 adults and 126 children) with LS, referred to our department from 1980 up to 2001. Clinical parameters evaluated were age, sex, LS variant, extracutaneous manifestations, duration of disease and follow-up. We also considered laboratory findings, most notably erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood eosinophilia, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and various circulating autoantibodies.

Ichthyosiform mycosis fungoides.

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a skin malignancy of T helper lymphocytes with a wide clinical spectrum. Among the atypical variants of MF, there is an ichthyosis-like presentation. However, to date, only 1 case of ichthyosiform MF has been reported.

Postoperative radiotherapy of keloids: a twenty-year experience.

In spite of several treatment modalities available, there is no method able to guarantee absolute success in the therapeutic approach to keloids. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of postoperative radiotherapy we performed a retrospective study on 156 keloids, histologically ascertained, treated by means of orthovoltage radiotherapy in the last twenty years. The total doses administered ranged from 15 to 40 Gy.

Heterochromia of the scalp hair: a result of pigmentary mosaicism?

Five patients who presented stable bands of hair of a different color with respect to the surrounding hair are reported. In 4 patients this was an isolated finding. One patient also had diffuse linear skin hypopigmentation and other abnormalities.

Radiotherapy of recurrent basal and squamous cell skin carcinomas: a study of 249 re-treated carcinomas in 229 patients.

It is of great practical utility to assess which is the best therapeutic choice in the management of basal and squamous cell skin carcinomas recurring after different treatments (RBSCSC). To this aim, we have performed a retrospective review of 249 recurrent lesions in 229 patients treated with dermatological radiotherapy in the period 1982-1999. The total doses of ionizing radiations administered ranged from 45 to 70 Gy, with different dose fractionations, according to the technique employed.

Disseminated histoplasmosis presenting with cutaneous lesions in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Objective: Presentation of a case of disseminated histoplasmosis, observed in a non-endemic area, in which cutaneous lesions and fever were the dominant clinical signs of the infection.

Case: A 54-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related Kaposi's sarcoma presented with cutaneous lesions and fever due to disseminated histoplasmosis. The patient was successfully treated with itraconazole 200 mg/day.