Dermoscopic Perspective of Pityriasis Versicolor in a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Pityriasis versicolor is a common superficial fungal infection which is usually easily diagnosed with Wood's lamp examination and 10% potassium hydroxide mount. However, these modalities have varying sensitivity and specificity. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to ascertain the dermoscopic features of pityriasis versicolor lesionally as well as perilesionally using dermoscopy, a non-invasive diagnostic tool. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients with pityriasis versicolor underwent dermoscopic examination of lesions and 2 cm around lesions, noting lesional and perilesional features. Semi-objective grading of pigmentation, scaling, and vascularity was done. The association between parameters was determined using heat maps and violin plots with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Lesional analysis was performed since lesions at different sides showed disparate features. Results: A total of 353 lesions from 233 patients (males = 150/233; 64.38% and females = 84/234; 36.05%) were studied. On lesional dermoscopy, pigmentary and scaling abnormalities were universal. 258/353 (73.1%) of lesions showed vascular abnormalities. Perilesionally, scaling (223/353; 63.17%) followed by pigmentation (205/353; 58.07%) and vascular changes (111/353; 31.44%) constituted the most common dermoscopic abnormalities and were noted in 294/353 (83.29%) of lesions overall. Increased disease duration corresponded with increased intensity of perilesional pigmentation alterations, perifollicular (P = 0.04), and follicular scales (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Awareness of dermoscopic features could improve the diagnostic accuracy in doubtful cases of pityriasis versicolor. Vascular findings are common and may point to an underlying inflammatory pathogenesis. Perilesional findings constitute early dermoscopic features of pityriasis versicolor and hint at the need for treatment beyond the confines of lesions. Larger follow-up studies and research into immunopathogenesis may be of further benefit.

A cross sectional descriptive study of dermoscopic features of clinical variants of cutaneous tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health concern worldwide with almost 20-40% of the world's population being affected yearly. Cutaneous Tuberculosis (TB) is a rare and underdiagnosed entity that manifests in about 1-1.5% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases worldwide. Dermoscopy is a non-invasive tool which will be a useful aid to histopathology in the confirmation of the diagnosis alongside culture, and molecular techniques. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted at a tertiary care center in Mumbai, India. A total of 31 patients were enrolled in this study; 14 males and 17 females. The mean duration of disease was 4.3 months and the average age was 31 years. There were 10 cases of lupus vulgaris, 7 scrofuloderma, 5 papulonecrotic tuberculid (PNT), 3 tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TBVC), and 2 cases each of erythema induratum of Bazin, lichen scrofulosorum and resolved lupus vulgaris. All the lesions demonstrated orange yellow background suggestive of dermal granuloma. Other key dermoscopic features noted include yellowish-white scales, patulous follicles, white structureless areas, milia-like cysts, white streaks, pigment globules, hairpin and linear vessels. Newer findings such as the crown of vessels and perifollicular pallor in lichen scrofulosorum, and radiating white streaks in PNT were also noted. Dermoscopy of infective granulomas such as cutaneous tuberculosis is a less explored field of dermatology. Newer dermoscopic features of each clinical variant of cutaneous TB have been described.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in Adult Patient Secondary to COVID-19 Infection: Case Report.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic caused by a novel zoonotic RNA virus named SARS-CoV-2. Various cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been described, including urticarial rash, confluent erythematous rash, papulovesicular exanthem, chilblain-like acral pattern, livedo reticularis, and purpuric vasculitis pattern. Here, we are presenting a case of a 45-year-old male with mucocutaneous features of Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

A Six-Year Retrospective Analysis of Skin Biopsies in the Pediatric and Adolescent Population Performed at a Tertiary Health Care Center in India.

Background: Hesitancy to perform skin biopsies in children or adolescents may lead to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and relatively, few studies analyzing pediatric skin biopsies exist. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to analyze the spectrum of skin diseases biopsied and demographic data of pediatric patients underwent skin biopsies at a tertiary health care center in India. Materials and Methods: Biopsy records over six years were analyzed, noting demographic data, disease duration, clinical differential diagnoses (CDD), final diagnosis after histopathology, disease categorization, and agreement between clinical and final diagnosis. The mean, range, and statistical significance of differences between proportions were calculated. Results: A total of 1308 biopsy records were analyzed. A male preponderance was noted (males - 55.1%; n = 721, females - 44.9%; n = 587). Most biopsies were performed in adolescents (12-18 years; 55.2%) followed by school-age children (5-12 years; 31.4%). Preponderant disease groups biopsied comprised papulosquamous (17.7%; n = 231) and infectious diseases (14.1%; n = 184). Leprosy was the most common infectious disease (37.5%; n = 69) with most patients belonging to borderline tuberculoid spectrum. The overall diagnostic agreement was 74.7%. No correlation of final diagnosis was noted with the number of CDD offered. In more than a fifth of cases, biopsy averted misdiagnosis. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of skin biopsies in pediatric patients and the relatively high clinico-histopathologic agreement. Leprosy and papulosquamous diseases were preponderant in the pediatric dermatopathology caseload.

Acral involvement in lichen scrofulosorum: A diagnostic oddity with distinctive features on dermoscopy.

A commonly underdiagnosed harbinger of visceral tuberculosis, lichen scrofulosorum classically manifests as centripetally located erythematous to violaceous cutaneous papules. Perifollicular and perieccrine tuberculoid granulomas constitute the histologic hallmark. We report a case of lichen scrofulosorum with involvement of the acral areas which is unusual. Also, dermoscopy, which has not yet been widely utilized in this condition gave a novel insights into histopathology in this case.

A comparative study of modulatory interaction between cytokines and apoptotic proteins among Scleroderma patients with and without pulmonary involvement.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are the most eminent forms of pulmonary involvement in Scleroderma. In this study we investigate the interaction between cytokines and apoptotic proteins in treatment naive Scleroderma (SSc) patients with and without pulmonary involvement. METHODS: Newly diagnosed treatment naïve Scleroderma (SSc) patients (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 100) were enrolled. Patients were classified as ILD-SSc, PAH-SSc and non-pulmonary SSc (np-SSc). Study variables like mRSS score, autoantibody profile, serum cytokines, serum TGF-ß (1,2,3) and apoptotic proteins were assessed for these patients. RESULTS: Scleroderma patients showed elevated levels of serum cytokines, but significantly lower IL-22 and TGF- ß1 when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Apoptotic proteins were significantly elevated among Scleroderma patients, but the patient groups also showed significant lower caspase 1/3/9 levels when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). ILD-SSc patients reported higher mRSS score (p = 0.0436) when compared with PAH-SSc and np-SSc. In ILD-SSc patients, finger tightening (p = 0.0481) and calcinosis/lesions (p = 0.0481) were significant clinical presentations whereas, digital ulcers were significantly prominent in np-SSc patients (p = 0.0132). Elevated TGF-ß3 levels (p = 0.02) in SSC-ILD and reduced IL-4 levels (p = 0.02) in SSC-PAH were significant cytokines as compared to np-SSc. Significant correlations were obtained among serum cytokines and apoptotic proteins in Scleroderma patients with and without pulmonary involvement. (p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the correlation between mRSS score, cytokines and apoptotic proteins in SSc patients with pulmonary involvement. A longitudinal follow up in these patients with assessment of these immunological parameters may be helpful in monitoring the disease.

Neutrophilic Pustular Eruption with Behcet's Like Illness Post Covid-19 Vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted the lives of many. In such unprecedent times, mass vaccination has been the cornerstone in decreasing morbidity and mortality. However, various adverse events (AEs) to COVID-19 vaccines including cutaneous AEs have been reported worldwide. We report a case of neutrophilic pustular eruption with a Behcet's disease-like illness following COVID-19 vaccination with no history of known allergies or prior severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

A descriptive observational study on clinical and dermoscopic features of benign melanocytic neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Benign melanocytic neoplasms have nests of melanocytic cells and show characteristic dermoscopic features. Clinical and dermoscopic features have not been studied previously in the Indian population. AIMS: To study the clinical, epidemiological and dermoscopic patterns of benign melanocytic neoplasms. METHODS: This was a descriptive, observational, single centre study. In 107 patients with melanocytic neoplasms, 167 lesions were clinically examined and studied under the dermoscope and histopathological examination was done when indicated. The lesions were broadly divided as acquired and congenital. Five main dermoscopic patterns were seen-globular, homogenous, reticular, parallel and streaks. If there were two of these patterns in a particular lesion, it was termed 'mixed pattern'. The presence of three or more patterns was called 'multicomponent pattern'. Various other features were also observed. RESULTS: The majority of patients belonged to the third decade with a female preponderance. History of increased UV exposure and family history was significant in acquired nevi. The dermoscopic pattern progressed from predominantly reticular in junctional nevi to predominantly globular in compound nevi and lesser pigment in intradermal nevi, with more vascular structures. The congenital melanocytic nevi showed additional features of comedo- like lesions, milia- like cysts, perifollicular pigmentary changes and increased colour variation. Even though colour variation was observed in both acquired and congenital lesions, no signs of dysplasia were seen on histopathology. LIMITATIONS: A larger sample size is required, with follow up of lesions. No parallel studies in brown skinned population were found for exact comparison. CONCLUSION: Benign melanocytic proliferations are often neglected in our country. This study will help in understanding the course, clinical features and dermoscopic patterns of various benign melanocytic neoplasms, and will be a step forward towards research in our population. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind in India.