Ultrasound Patterns of Vitiligo at High Frequency and Ultra-High-Frequency.

OBJECTIVES: To detect ultrasonographic anatomical alterations in all the skin layers in patients with vitiligo. METHODS: A prospective observational color Doppler ultrasound study was performed in nonsegmental face and/or neck vitiligo patients without a history of previous treatments. Two sites, a lesional area and a contralateral clinically healthy region, were ultrasonographically studied and compared in the same patient. All cases were studied in high-frequency (24 MHz) and ultra-high-frequency (70 MHz) ultrasound devices with the highest axial spatial resolution available in the market. Demographic data of the sample, ultrasound grayscale, and color Doppler features were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Ten patients met the study criteria (60% females; mean age 49 years). All cases presented ultrasonographic undulation of the epidermis in the affected zones vs 50% in the healthy control regions, being more prominent in the vitiligo areas. Eighty percent demonstrated intense hypoechoic thin plaques in the upper dermis (subepidermal). All vitiligo areas presented thickening and hypoechogenicity of the regional hair follicles and/or pilosebaceous units. Ninety percent showed prominent sebaceous glands, and 20% demonstrated a hypoechoic cap surrounding the sebaceous glands in the lesional areas. Dermal hypervascularity was detected in 100% of the affected regions and 40% of the clinically healthy areas. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound can identify subclinical inflammatory cutaneous patterns in the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, pilosebaceous units, and sebaceous glands in vitiligo. This noninvasive information can support early detection, monitoring, and research, including the clinical trials of drugs used to manage this devastating disease.

Case for diagnosis. Atypical Grover's disease

Abstract A 55-year-old male presented with an eight-month history of erythematous papules and plaques with demarcated areas of spared skin on his trunk, upper extremities, neck, and face. Grover's disease is a rare, acquired disorder of unknown origin, which is classically characterized by the appearance of erythematous papules on the upper trunk that are usually transient. As in the present case, there are reports of atypical disease, with facial involvement, pityriasis rubra pilaris-like lesions, and a more chronic course.

Case for diagnosis. Atypical Grover's disease.

A 55-year-old male presented with an eight-month history of erythematous papules and plaques with demarcated areas of spared skin on his trunk, upper extremities, neck, and face. Grover's disease is a rare, acquired disorder of unknown origin, which is classically characterized by the appearance of erythematous papules on the upper trunk that are usually transient. As in the present case, there are reports of atypical disease, with facial involvement, pityriasis rubra pilaris-like lesions, and a more chronic course.

Linfoma cutáneo primario de células B centrofolicular: un desafío diagnóstico / Primary cutaneous follicular B-cell lymphoma: a diagnostic challenge

El linfoma cutáneo primario de células B (LCPCB) centrofolicular corresponde a una proliferación neoplásica infrecuente e indolente de células del centro germinal confinadas a la piel. Se reporta y revisa un caso de LCPCB centrofolicular. Paciente femenino de 76 años, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y resistencia a la insulina. Consultó por aumento de volumen frontal de dos años de evolución. Al examen físico destacaba un nódulo único en región frontal derecha. La ecografía de partes blandas fue compatible con quiste epidérmico. La histopatología demostró en dermis profunda, tejido adiposo subcutáneo y tejido muscular estriado una proliferación linfoide sólida dispuesta en patrón nodular y difuso. A la inmunohistoquímica (IHQ), los linfocitos fueron CD20 y BCL-6 positivo, con un Ki-67 de 60% y BCL-2, CD3, CD5 y CD10 negativo. El estudio de diseminación tumoral resultó negativo. El LCPCB centrofolicular concentra el 60% de todos los LCPCB. Se presenta en promedio a los 51 años. Se ha descrito asociación con Borrelia burgdorferi, VIH, virus hepatitis C y virus Epstein-Barr. Clínicamente corresponde a un nódulo eritematoso y asintomático, localizado preferentemente en cabeza, cuello y tronco. La IHQ es fundamental para diferenciarlo de otros tipos de LCPCB. Habitualmente, el tratamiento es con radioterapia o cirugía escisional. La supervivencia es de un 95% a 5 años. Se presenta este caso dado que el LCPCB centrofolicular corresponde a un tumor cutáneo infrecuente, con múltiples diagnósticos diferenciales, que requiere de un alto índice de sospecha para lograr un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno.

The primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL) corresponds to an infrequent and indolent neoplastic proliferation of germinal center cells confined to the skin. A case of PCFCL is reported and revised. Results: A female patient, 76 years old, with arterial hypertension and insulin resistance. Sough attention for an increase in size of the frontal region over the course of two years. Upon physical examination, a single nodule was noted in the right frontal region. A soft tissue ultrasound identified results indicative of an epidermal cyst. The histopathology revealed a proliferation of solid lymphoid arrayed in a diffuse and nodular pattern in the deep dermis, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and striated muscular tissue. Immunohistochemistry (IHQ) revealed CD20 and BCL-6 positive lymphocytes, with 60% of Ki-67 and BCL-2, CD3, CD5, and CD10 negative. A study of tumor dissemination resulted negative. The PCFCL concentrates 60% of all primary cutaneous B cell lymphomas (PCBCL). It presents at an average of 51 years of age. It has been described association with Borrelia burgdorferi, HIV, hepatitis C virus and Epstein-Barr virus. Clinically it corresponds to an erythematous and asymptomatic nodule, found frequently on the head, neck and trunk. The IHQ is essential to differentiate it from other types of PCBCL. It is usually treated with radiotherapy or excisional surgery. Survival is 95% over 5 years. This case is presented because the PCFCL corresponds to an infrequent cutaneous tumor, with multiple differential diagnoses, requiring a high index of suspicion to achieve an opportune diagnostic and treatment.

Tumor mixto cutáneo apocrino, un desafío diagnóstico a considerar / A mixed cutaneous apocrine tumors, a diagnostic challenge to to consider

El tumor mixto cutáneo es una neoplasia se aparición inusual al que se ha denominado también siringoma condroide. Se reporta un caso de Tumor mixto benigno apocrino en una paciente de 63 años. Paciente mujer de 63 años, con lesión tumoral de un año de evolución en zona frontal, asintomática. La ecografía de partes blandas fue compatible con lesión quística y el estudio histológico mostró la presencia de una neoplasia mixta benigna epitelial estromal, correspondiente a un tumor mixto benigno apocrino. Los tumores mixtos benignos apocrinos son neoplasias poco frecuentes, localizadas en las glándulas sudoríparas. Se caracterizan por presentarse como un nódulo subcutáneo o intradérmico, solitario, que puede alcanzar hasta 3 cm. de diámetro. Son asintomáticos y de crecimiento lento. Su principal ubicación corresponde a la cabeza y cuello y predominan en pacientes de sexo masculino, de edad media. El diagnóstico de certeza es histopatológico, encontrándose a la microscopía un patrón epitelial compuesto por estructuras tubulares, ductales, túbulo-alveolares o áreas sólidas con diferenciación pilo-sebácea focal, en un estroma que puede ser mixoide o condroide Se presenta este caso por ser un tumor de baja frecuencia, cuyo diagnóstico es esencialmente histopatológico y cuya terapia resolutiva es la extirpación quirúrgica completa.

Apocrine mixed tumor of the skin: a diagnosis challenge to consider. Cutaneous mixed tumor is an uncommon, benign adnexal neoplasm arising from apocrine or eccrine glands of the dermis. Apocrine mixed tumors often exhibit decapitation secretion, a feature of apocrine epithelium, but they may exhibit a wide range of metaplastic changes and differentiation in the epithelial, the myoepithelial, and the stromal components. We present two clinical cases of Apocrine mixed tumour of the skin in two different patients who have seen in our Department.

Malignant melanoma in Chile: different site distribution between private and state patients.

BACKGROUND: The body site location of primary Malignant Melanoma (MM) has been correlated with prognosis and survival. Ethnic, genetics, sun exposure factors are related to the anatomical distribution of MM. Low and high socioeconomic strata in Chile differ in ethnic, genetic and cultural conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomical MM distribution in the Chilean population in both strata searching for differences due to their ethno-genetic-cultural differences. Records of 1148 MM, 575 cases from state hospitals (Low Socioeconomic Strata, LSS) and 573 cases from private clinics (High Socioeconomic Strata, HSS) were analyzed by body site. RESULTS: Females from LSS showed a higher number of MM in soles, cheeks, and around the eye area. Females from the HSS showed a higher number of MM in dorsal feet and dorsal hands. Males from LSS showed a higher number of MM in soles, around the eye area, and cheeks. However, males from HSS showed a higher number of MM in the trunk, and in the arms. Acral MM was significantly higher in LSS than in the HSS in both sexes. The Chilean population from the HSS and LSS showed differences in the distribution of MM by site. Furthermore, gender differences in the proportion of MM analyzed by anatomical site are observed in both strata. CONCLUSIONS: Results show evidence that differential genetics factors, sun exposure, or other environmental or cultural factors of both strata may account for these differences.

Malignant melanoma in Chile: different site distribution between private and state patients

BACKGROUND: The body site location of primary Malignant Melanoma (MM) has been correlated with prognosis and survival. Ethnic, genetics, sun exposure factors are related to the anatomical distribution of MM. Low and high socioeconomic strata in Chile differ in ethnic, genetic and cultural conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomical MM distribution in the Chilean population in both strata searching for differences due to their ethno-genetic-cultural differences. Records of 1148 MM, 575cases from state hospitals (Low Socioeconomic Strata, LSS) and 573 cases from private clinics (High Socioeconomic Strata, HSS) were analyzed by body site. RESULTS: Females from LSS showed a higher number of MM in soles, cheeks, and around the eye area. Females from the HSS showed a higher number of MM in dorsal feet and dorsal hands. Males from LSS showed a higher number of MM in soles, around the eye area, and cheeks. However, males from HSS showed a higher number of MM in the trunk, and in the arms. Acral MM was significantly higher in LSS than in the HSS in both sexes. The Chilean population from the HSS and LSS showed differences in the distribution of MM by site. Furthermore, gender differences in the proportion of MM analyzed by anatomical site are observed in both strata. CONCLUSIONS: Results show evidence that differential genetics factors, sun exposure, or other environmental or cultural factors of both strata may account for these differences.

Campaña de educación y detección del cáncer a la piel / Campaign of education and detection of skin cancer

En Octubre de 2002, nuestro Servicio lanzó una campaña de tres días de duración, denominada Exposol, dirigida a educar sobre los riesgos de la exposición solar y a la detección precoz del cáncer de piel en Santiago. Un total de 2.378 personas asistieron a la campaña. Ochocientas noventa y cinco personas fueron evaluadas por dermatólogos al referir lesiones sospechosas de ellos, un 9 por ciento presentaban, clínicamente, lesiones cutáneas de aspecto maligno. Nuestros resultados son similares a publicaciones internacionales. Campañas de este tipo pueden ayudar a disminuir las cifras de incidencia de cáncer de piel, pero deben realizarse esfuerzos adicionales y continuos para llegar con este mensaje a la mayor cantidad de la población.