Cervico-thoracic lipoma associated with occult syringohydromyelia.

Cutaneous lesions in the midline may be hallmarks of an occult spinal dysraphism. They rarely may occur in the cervical and thoracic regions. We report a 9-year-old girl with a cervico-thoracic lipoma associated with an underlying syringohydromyelia. Early detection of potentially complicated conditions can prevent the occurrence of irreversible neurologic damage.

Clinical patterns of cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacterial infections.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacterial infections result from external inoculation, spread of a deeper infection, or haematogenous spread of a disseminated infection. There are two species-specific infections (fish-tank or swimming-pool granuloma, due to Mycobacterium marinum, and Buruli ulcer, caused by M. ulcerans). Most infections, however, produce a nonspecific clinical picture. OBJECTIVES: To define clinical patterns of cutaneous disease in nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacterial infections were reviewed. Clinical and histopathological features of normal hosts and immunosuppressed patients were compared. Two subgroups of immunosuppressed patients were distinguished: patients with cutaneous infection and patients with a disseminated infection and cutaneous involvement. RESULTS: In immunosuppressed patients the number of lesions was significantly higher. Abscesses and ulceration were also more frequently observed. Different species were found in normal hosts and immunosuppressed patients. Several clinical patterns of cutaneous infection were defined: lymphocutaneous or sporotrichoid lesions; nonlymphocutaneous lesions at the site of trauma; folliculitis and furunculosis involving the lower extremities; disseminated lesions on the extremities in immunosuppressed patients. Two patterns were observed in patients with a disseminated infection: localized cutaneous lesions and disseminated cutaneous and mucosal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous manifestations of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections may be classified according to criteria such as cutaneous lesions and immune status.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in a patient with healing second degree burns.

A 15-year-old boy with Kaposi's varicelliform eruption complicating healing second degree burns is reported. Clinically, umbilicated vesicles and pustules evolving to extensive erosions appeared over previously burned areas, sparing normal skin. Rapid diagnosis was made on the basis of the presence of multinucleate giant cells in a Tzanck smear. Therapy with intravenous acyclovir was followed by complete epithelialization without scarring. Previous cases of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in burned patients are reviewed.

Ofuji papuloerythroderma in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Ofuji papuloerythroderma (OPE) is a distinctive clinical entity of unknown etiology which occasionally may be associated with B-cell and T-cell lymphomas and visceral malignancy. We describe a case of OPE in a male with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of OPE in a patient infected by the human immunodeficiency virus.

Childhood calcinosis cutis.

Calcinosis cutis, an uncommon disorder characterized by hydroxyapatite crystals of calcium phosphate deposited in the skin, has been described infrequently in childhood. Classically, it is divided into dystrophic, metastatic, and idiopathic types. We report an 8-year-old girl with hyperphosphatemia secondary to a tumor lysis syndrome, who developed a localized soft tissue calcification over a previous lesion of ecthyma gangrenosum. Intravenous infusion of calcium gluconate was probably the precipitating factor. Our case illustrates that several etiopathogenic mechanisms may be simultaneously involved in calcinosis cutis.

Perianal pseudoverrucous papules and nodules after surgery for Hirschsprung disease.

We report two patients with Hirschsprung disease in whom severe diarrhea and a distinctive diaper dermatitis developed after delayed ileoanal anastomosis. The perianal papulonodular lesions cleared in months or years without specific treatment after resolution of the diarrhea. These perianal pseudoverrucous papules and nodules represent a peculiar form of primary irritant diaper dermatitis, distinct from Jacquet erosive diaper dermatitis and granuloma gluteale infantum.