Vascular Malformations: A Histopathologic and Conceptual Appraisal.

In the field of vascular anomalies, distinguishing between vascular malformations and tumors has become crucial for a correct therapeutic approach. However, the differential diagnosis between these two groups is not always well explained in classical texts, mainly because many vascular malformations are still known with old names that suggest a tumoral nature. Also, genetic and pathogenic knowledge of these entities has greatly increased in recent decades, so researchers and clinicians now have a better understanding of vascular malformations. In this paper, we present the main histopathological tips to recognize and identify a vascular malformation as such. We also contextualize such information in the clinical and pathogenic knowledge for a better understanding of these entities.

Vascular Malformations: A Histopathologic and Conceptual Appraisal. / [Artículo traducido] Malformaciones vasculares: un enfoque histopatológico y conceptual.

In the field of vascular anomalies, distinguishing between vascular malformations and tumors has become crucial for a correct therapeutic approach. However, the differential diagnosis between these two groups is not always well explained in classical texts, mainly because many vascular malformations are still known with old names that suggest a tumoral nature. Also, genetic and pathogenic knowledge of these entities has greatly increased in recent decades, so researchers and clinicians now have a better understanding of vascular malformations. In this paper, we present the main histopathological tips to recognize and identify a vascular malformation as such. We also contextualize such information in the clinical and pathogenic knowledge for a better understanding of these entities.

Skin manifestations of COVID-19 in children: Part 3.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The initial recognized symptoms were respiratory, sometimes culminating in severe respiratory distress requiring ventilation, and causing death in a percentage of those infected. As time has passed, other symptoms have been recognized. The initial reports of cutaneous manifestations were from Italian dermatologists, probably because Italy was the first European country to be heavily affected by the pandemic. The overall clinical presentation, course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children differ from those in adults as do the cutaneous manifestations of childhood. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 in children after thorough and critical review of articles published in the literature and from the personal experience of a large panel of paediatric dermatologists in Europe. In Part 1, we discuss one of the first and most widespread cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19, chilblain-like lesions, and in Part 2 we expanded to other manifestations, including erythema multiforme, urticaria and Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory multisystemic syndrome. In this part of the review, we discuss the histological findings of COVID-19 manifestations, and the testing and management of infected children for both COVID-19 and any other pre-existing conditions.

Skin manifestations of COVID-19 in children: Part 2.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The initial recognized symptoms were respiratory, sometimes culminating in severe respiratory distress requiring ventilation, and causing death in a percentage of those infected. As time has passed, other symptoms have been recognized. The initial reports of cutaneous manifestations were from Italian dermatologists, probably because Italy was the first European country to be heavily affected by the pandemic. The overall clinical presentation, course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children differ from those in adults, as do the cutaneous manifestations of childhood. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 in children after thorough and critical review of articles published in the literature and from the personal experience of a large panel of paediatric dermatologists in Europe. In Part 1, we discussed one of the first and most widespread cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19, chilblain-like lesions. In this part of the review, we describe other manifestations, including erythema multiforme, urticaria and Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory multisystemic syndrome. In Part 3, we discuss the histological findings of COVID-19 manifestations, and the testing and management of infected children for both COVID-19 and any other pre-existing conditions.

Skin manifestations of COVID-19 in children: Part 1.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The initial recognized symptoms were respiratory, sometimes culminating in severe respiratory distress requiring ventilation, and causing death in a percentage of those infected. As time has passed, other symptoms have been recognized. The initial reports of cutaneous manifestations were from Italian dermatologists, probably because Italy was the first European country to be heavily affected by the pandemic. The overall clinical presentation, course and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children differ from those in adults as do the cutaneous manifestations of childhood. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 in children after thorough and critical review of articles published in the literature and from the personal experience of a large panel of paediatric dermatologists in Europe. In Part 1, we discuss one of the first and most widespread cutaneous manifestation of COVID-19, chilblain-like lesions. In Part 2, we review other manifestations, including erythema multiforme, urticaria and Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory multisystemic syndrome, while in Part 3, we discuss the histological findings of COVID-19 manifestations, and the testing and management of infected children, for both COVID-19 and any other pre-existing conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 Has Not Been Detected Directly by Electron Microscopy in the Endothelium of Chilblain Lesions: reply from authors.

We fully agree that the interpretation of electron microscopy findings can be challenging, even for experts. Differences between viral pathogens and normal subcellular organelles may be subtle, and some cellular components can masquerade as viruses. The size and shape of the particle shown in our paper fit with other descriptions of SARS-CoV-2, but there may be a bias in interpretation.

Happle-Tinschert, Curry-Jones and segmental basal cell naevus syndromes, overlapping disorders caused by somatic mutations in hedgehog signalling genes: the mosaic hedgehog spectrum.

Happle-Tinschert syndrome (HTS) and Curry-Jones syndrome (CJS; OMIM 601707) are rare, sporadic, multisystem disorders characterized by hypo- and hyperpigmented skin patches following Blaschko's lines, plus acral skeletal and other abnormalities. The blaschkoid pattern implies mosaicism, and indeed CJS was found in 2016 to be caused by a recurrent postzygotic mutation in a gene of the hedgehog signalling pathway, namely SMO, c.1234C>T, p.Leu412Phe. More recently the original case of HTS was found to carry the same somatic mutation. Despite this genetic and phenotypic overlap, two significant differences remained between the two syndromes. The histological hallmark of HTS, basaloid follicular hamartomas, is not a feature of CJS. Meanwhile, the severe gastrointestinal manifestations regularly reported in CJS had not been described in HTS. We report a patient whose phenotype was entirely consistent with HTS apart from intractable constipation, and a second patient with classic features of CJS plus early-onset medulloblastoma, a feature of basal cell naevus syndrome (BCNS). Both had the same recurrent SMO mutation. This prompted a literature review that revealed a case with the same somatic mutation, with basaloid follicular hamartomas and other features of both CJS and BCNS. Segmental BCNS can also be caused by a somatic mutation in PTCH1. We thus demonstrate for the first time phenotypic and genetic overlap between HTS, CJS and segmental BCNS. All of these conditions are caused by somatic mutations in genes of the hedgehog signalling pathway and we therefore propose the unifying term 'mosaic hedgehog spectrum'. What's already known about this topic? Happle-Tinschert syndrome (HTS) and Curry-Jones syndrome (CJS) are rare mosaic multisystem disorders with linear skin lesions. CJS is characterized by severe constipation, which has not previously been reported in HTS. HTS is characterized by basaloid follicular hamartomas, which are not a recognized feature of CJS. The recurrent mosaic SMO mutation found in CJS was recently reported in a patient with HTS. What does this study add? We describe a patient with HTS and intractable constipation, and a case of CJS with medulloblastoma. Both patients had the same recurrent somatic SMO mutation also found in a case reported as segmental basal cell naevus syndrome. SMO functions in the hedgehog pathway, explaining phenotypic overlap between HTS, CJS and mosaic basal cell naevus syndrome. We propose the term 'mosaic hedgehog spectrum' for these overlapping conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 endothelial infection causes COVID-19 chilblains: histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of seven paediatric cases.

BACKGROUND: Chilblains ('COVID toes') are being seen with increasing frequency in children and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Detailed histopathological descriptions of COVID-19 chilblains have not been reported, and causality of SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been established. OBJECTIVES: To describe the histopathological features of COVID-19 chilblains and to explore the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the tissue. METHODS: We examined skin biopsies from seven paediatric patients presenting with chilblains during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immunohistochemistry for SARS-CoV-2 was performed in all cases and electron microscopy in one. RESULTS: Histopathology showed variable degrees of lymphocytic vasculitis ranging from endothelial swelling and endotheliitis to fibrinoid necrosis and thrombosis. Purpura, superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic inflammation with perieccrine accentuation, oedema, and mild vacuolar interface damage were also seen. SARS-CoV-2 immunohistochemistry was positive in endothelial cells and epithelial cells of eccrine glands. Coronavirus particles were found in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells on electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Although the clinical and histopathological features were similar to other forms of chilblains, the presence of viral particles in the endothelium and the histological evidence of vascular damage support a causal relation of the lesions with SARS-CoV-2. Endothelial damage induced by the virus could be the key mechanism in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 chilblains and perhaps also in a group of patients severely affected by COVID-19 presenting with features of microangiopathic damage. What is already known about this topic? Despite the high number of cases of chilblains seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, a definite causative role for SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been proven. Different pathogenetic hypotheses have been proposed, including coagulation anomalies, interferon release and external factors. What does this study add? The demonstration of SARS-CoV-2 in endothelial cells of skin biopsies by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy confirms that these lesions are part of the spectrum of COVID-19. Virus-induced vascular damage and secondary ischaemia could explain the pathophysiology of COVID-19 chilblains. Our findings support the hypothesis that widespread endothelial infection by SARS-CoV-2 could have a pathogenetic role in the severe forms of COVID-19. Linked Comment: Wetter. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:611.

Histopathological hallmarks of cutaneous lesions of capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome.

IMPORTANCE: Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM) syndrome is a recently described syndrome with distinctive cutaneous lesions. Very little is known about the histopathology of these lesions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the histopathological characteristics of the pink macules of the CM-AVM syndrome and to investigate if these pink macules could be classified as capillary malformations or arteriovenous malformations based on their histopathological features. DESIGN-SETTINGS-PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study involving eight hospitals in Spain. Fifteen biopsies from pink macules of the CM-AVM syndrome were analysed and compared with five biopsies of diverse capillary malformations and three stage I arteriovenous malformations. RESULTS: Pink macules' biopsies of the CM-AVM syndrome showed similar features including a high vascular density encompassing capillaries and numerous thick-walled arterioles mainly located in the superficial dermis, a predominance of elongated over round vessels, scarce or absent erythrocytes within the lumina and discrete perivascular inflammation. CMs were characterized by an increased number of capillary-type vessels mostly rounded and located in the upper dermis. AVMs were composed by highly increased numbers of vessels with a branching pattern involving the full thickness of the dermis, without erythrocytes within the lumina. Wilms tumour 1 protein was positive in the endothelial cells both in pink macules of the CM-AVM and in arteriovenous malformations. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Pink macules of the CM-AVM syndrome seem to be different from capillary malformations. Our results suggest that histologically and immunohistochemically they are closer to incipient arteriovenous malformations than to capillary malformations. A deepened knowledge about the nature of these skin lesions will contribute to the better understanding of capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome, and will open the possibility of new and more specific treatments in the future.

Cartilage hair hypoplasia with cutaneous lymphomatoid granulomatosis.

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) is an autosomal recessive chondrodysplasia characterized by short-stature, sparse hair and impaired cellular immunity. We describe a young girl who was diagnosed with CHH based on the findings of recurrent infections, short stature with metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, and a confirmed bi-allelic RMRP gene mutation. At 13 years, the patient developed an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven lymphoproliferative disorder involving the lung, which responded partially to chemotherapy. Simultaneously, she developed multiple indurated plaques involving her face, which had histological findings of granulomatous inflammation and EBV-associated low-grade lymphomatoid granulomatosis. The patient received a matched unrelated peripheral blood stem cell transplant at 15 years of age, and her immunological parameters and skin lesions improved. Lymphomatoid forms of granulomatosis and cutaneous EBV-associated malignancies have not been described previously in CHH. This case highlights the possibility of EBV-associated cutaneous malignancy in CHH.

Mosaic NRAS Q61R mutation in a child with giant congenital melanocytic naevus, epidermal naevus syndrome and hypophosphataemic rickets.

The association of hypophosphataemic rickets with verrucous epidermal naevus (EN) and elevated fibroblast growth factor 23 levels is known as cutaneous-skeletal hypophosphataemia syndrome (CSHS), and can be caused by somatic activating mutations in RAS genes. We report a unique patient with CSHS associated with giant congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN), neurocutaneous melanosis and EN syndrome, manifesting as facial linear sebaceous naevus, developmental delay and ocular dermoids. An activating mutation Q61R in the NRAS gene was found in affected skin and ocular tissue but not blood, implying that the disparate manifestations are due to a multilineage activating mutation (mosaic RASopathy). We speculate on the apparently rare association of CSHS with CMN compared with EN. We also report the favourable outcome of this patient at the age of 8 years after extensive neonatal curettage of the giant CMN and use of vitamin D and phosphate supplementation.

Recurrent lipoatrophic panniculitis of children.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent panniculitis in children with lipoatrophy has been loosely described and reported under different names, but has never been systematically evaluated by immunohistochemical stains. OBJECTIVE: To depict the profile of children with recurrent idiopathic panniculitis. METHODS: Study of clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features in five cases with recurrent idiopathic panniculitis. RESULTS: Five children with repeated attacks of painful subcutaneous nodules in association with fever, malaise and abdominal pain or arthralgia, with subsequent lipoatrophy were reviewed. In two patients, extensive involvement led to loss of the cutaneous fatty tissue. Laboratory abnormalities included increased acute phase reactants, leukocytosis with mild neutrophilia, microcytic anaemia and elevated liver enzymes. Histopathology showed lobar panniculitis without vasculitis and with a mixed infiltrate, composed of neutrophils, mononuclear cells, lymphocytes, macrophages and myeloid cells. Neutrophils and myeloid cells were more prominent in early lesions, whereas macrophages predominated in late stages, leading to lipophagia and lipoatrophy. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining for myeloperoxidase around the necrotic adipocytes in early stages and CD68/PGM1 macrophages in late stages. Intense STAT1 staining was observed in the inflammatory infiltrate. All patients improved with methotrexate and corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: We present five cases of lobar panniculitis and lipoatrophy in childhood. The clinico-pathologic presentation shares features with other autoinflammatory diseases.

Vascular tumours in infants. Part I: benign vascular tumours other than infantile haemangioma.

Vascular anomalies can be subdivided into vascular tumours and vascular malformations (VMs). While most VMs are present at birth and do not exhibit significant postnatal growth, vascular tumours are characterized by their dynamics of growth and (sometimes) spontaneous regression. This review focuses on benign vascular tumours other than infantile haemangiomas (IHs), namely pyogenic granuloma, eruptive pseudoangiomatosis, glomangioma, rapidly involuting and noninvoluting congenital haemangioma, verrucous haemangioma and spindle cell haemangioma. While some of them bear clinical resemblance to IH, they can be separated by age of appearance, growth characteristics and/or negative staining for glucose transporter 1. Separation of these tumours from IH is necessary because their outcome and therapeutic options are different. Semimalignant and malignant vascular tumours will be addressed in a separate review.

Vascular tumours in infants. Part II: vascular tumours of intermediate malignancy [corrected] and malignant tumours.

Malignant cutaneous vascular tumours are very uncommon in children. As in adults, they are aggressive neoplasms with metastatic potential and a high mortality rate. Some nonmalignant vascular tumours may exhibit a locally aggressive behaviour and some of them can be associated with life-threatening systemic complications such as Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Early diagnosis of these aggressive neoplasms in children is very important in order to start appropriate therapy as soon as possible, as this can have a significant impact on the prognosis of these patients. This review focuses on cutaneous vascular tumours of intermediate dignity (tufted angioma, kaposiform haemangioendothelioma, multifocal lymphangioendotheliomatosis with thrombocytopenia, papillary intralymphatic angioendothelioma, retiform haemangioendothelioma, adult-type haemangioendotheliomas) and malignant vascular tumours in young children (Kaposi sarcoma, angiosarcoma).

Early-onset acral basal cell carcinomas in Gorlin syndrome.

Two patients are reported in whom early-onset, distal papules with a histopathological diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma were the first manifestation of Gorlin syndrome (GS). These lesions showed no progression and remained stable through follow-up. Two different PTCH1 gene mutations were detected in the two patients, and thus a phenotype-genotype correlation of this manifestation of GS was not possible.

Molecular evidence of type 2 mosaicism in Gorlin syndrome.

We present a 12-year-old girl with a family history of Gorlin syndrome who had unilateral, segmentally arranged basaloid skin tumours present since birth, ipsilateral, palmoplantar pits of rather large size distributed along Blaschko lines, and an ipsilateral odontogenic keratocyst. The patient and her father were heterozygous for a germline mutation in the form of a single-base substitution in exon 18 of the PTCH1 gene. In the patient's lesional skin, a microdeletion in exon 3 of PTCH1 was detected, giving rise to a truncated protein. This additional mutation was ruled out in the contralateral skin and in blood lymphocytes, thus confirming its mosaic state. In this way we provide for the first time molecular proof of a type 2 segmental involvement of this autosomal dominant trait.

Ectodermal dysplasia-skin fragility syndrome: a novel mutation in the PKP1 gene.

Ectodermal dysplasia-skin fragility syndrome (EDSFS) is an autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by skin fragility, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, onichodystrophy, perioral fissuring and noncicatricial alopecia. It is caused by plakophilin-1 (PKP1) deficiency, which results in desmosomal abnormality and poor intercellular cohesion between the epidermal cells. We report a case with a novel PKP1 mutation in intron 6.