The "Line Sign" Is a Rapid and Efficient Diagnostic "Test" for Morphea: Clinicopathological Study of 73 Cases.

Histologic clues that facilitate rapid diagnosis of morphea at scanning magnification have been described but not well studied. We examined 73 cases of morphea and 42 control cases to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a novel histopathological feature-"the line sign (LS)"-a prominent, straight interface between subcutis and adjacent collagen. The sensitivity of LS was shown to be the most sensitive feature among 4 other existing histopathological features. Its specificity, however, was not the highest among the other features and needs to be evaluated further in future studies to confirm the usefulness of LS as a diagnostic tool for morphea.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica and an overview of zinc metabolism.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of zinc deficiency. The genetic defect has been mapped to 8q24 and the defective gene identified as SLC39A4, which encodes the zinc transporter Zip4. The diagnosis is made by way of clinical presentation together with histopathology and laboratory tests. Here we provide an overview of zinc metabolism and a description of inherited and acquired zinc deficiency.

Keloids: pathophysiology and management.

Keloid formation occurs as a result of abnormal wound healing. Despite the high prevalence of keloids in the general population, they remain one of the more challenging dermatologic conditions to manage. More than a cosmetic nuisance, they are often symptomatic and can have a significant psychosocial burden for the patient. Although multiple treatment modalities exist, no single treatment has proven widely effective. In fact, recurrence following treatment is generally the norm. Combination therapy is likely the optimal strategy. In this review, we highlight the clinical features, pathophysiology and management of keloids.

Melanocortin-1 receptor: loss of function mutations and skin cancer.

We present a red-haired patient who came to our clinic seeking information regarding his predisposition to skin cancer. We discuss the receptor involved in hair color and the allelic variants that lead to red hair. These variants are often characterized by loss of function mutations, which lead to a predisposition to non-melanoma skin cancers, with relative risks reaching as high as a 6.7 in one study. Most concerning, however, is that some of these loss of function mutations may act synergistically with genetic mutations that cause familial melanomas. Thus, red haired patients with familial melanoma syndromes have a greater risk of melanoma than those patients with familial melanoma syndromes alone.

Hereditary syringomas: a case report.

Syringoma is a benign neoplasm of eccrine origin. Clinically, it is an eruption of small translucent-to-yellowish papules. These lesions are firm, smooth, and approximately 1-3 mm in diameter. They are most commonly found around the eyes and on the upper cheeks of middle-aged women. Lesions sometimes develop on the abdomen, axillae, penis, vulva, and scalp. Involvement of the scalp may be indistinguishable from nonscarring alopecia. Familial cases have been reported, and there is an increased incidence of syringoma in adults with Down syndrome. Eruptive syringoma, a separate entity, presents mostly in adolescents as clusters of numerous papules on the upper half of the body.