Prurigo pigmentosa: a clinicopathologic study of 4 cases from the middle East.

Prurigo pigmentosa (PP) is a rare inflammatory dermatosis originally reported in Japan. Since then, most reports have originated from Asia, and to a lesser extent from Europe. Although the pathogenesis remains unclear, it is now established that PP is linked to ketoacidotic states. Four patients diagnosed with PP were identified from the dermatopathology database at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between January 2009 and December 2013. Clinicopathologic findings in the 4 patients were similar to those previously reported in the literature. The patients were all female with a mean age of 23.5 years. They all presented with itchy erythematous reticulated papulovesicles/plaques leaving variable reticulated brownish patches. Two patients had, in addition, annular lesions arranged en cocarde and pustules, respectively. In 3 patients, the rash was associated with fasting or dieting. The rash had a predilection to the trunk and proximal part of the upper extremities. One patient had intergluteal area involvement. Two biopsy specimens revealed psoriasiform hyperplasia and neutrophilic exocytosis mimicking psoriasis or an impetiginized spongiotic dermatitis. One biopsy specimen exhibited a mild superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with ballooning and reticular degeneration, a picture mimicking a viral exanthema. Another biopsy specimen exhibited a picture similar to chronic spongiotic dermatitis. Although mostly described in Japan, PP has been described much less frequently in the Middle East region likely due to mis/underdiagnosis. Therefore, increased awareness is necessary especially because fasting is a common religious practice among Arab countries. Further investigations are necessary to better understand the etiopathogenesis of this rare entity.

Pyoderma gangrenosum: a misdiagnosis.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, commonly mistaken for an infection. Here, we report the case of a 55-year-old woman with an infectious process that was initially misdiagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum and treated accordingly. We also discuss the criteria and the methods available to diagnose infections and pyoderma gangrenosum correctly.

A review of Parry-Romberg syndrome.

Parry-Romberg syndrome, also known as progressive hemifacial atrophy, is a rare disorder characterized by unilateral facial atrophy affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, and sometimes extending to the osteocartilaginous structures. It has been associated with various systemic manifestations, particularly neurologic, ophthalmologic and maxillofacial. In this article, we review Parry-Romberg syndrome with its associated findings (neurologic, ophthalmologic, cardiac, rheumatologic, endocrinologic, infectious, orthodontic and maxillofacial, and autoimmune), underlying cause, differential diagnoses (en coup de sabre, scleroderma, and Rasmussen encephalitis), and therapeutic options.

Skin disorders associated with the COVID-19 pandemic: A review.

INTRODUCTION: In December 2019, a new coronavirus has emerged out of China, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, causing a disease known as COVID-19, which steadily has progressed into a pandemic. This coronavirus affects many organs, including the skin, whose manifestations are a consequence of the disease itself, as well as the preventative measures taken to avoid the infection. This paper reviews the cutaneous manifestations which currently have been encountered during this pandemic. METHODS: A search was conducted on PubMed, and all relevant articles were included. RESULTS: The results show the occurrence of many cutaneous findings, ranging from those related to the infection itself and to various dermatitides related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) utilized by healthcare workers while attending to infected patients. DISCUSSION: Recognizing these findings is important for the accurate diagnosis of those infected with COVID-19 as well as the prompt treatment of the side effects caused by PPE that might further impair the effectiveness of healthcare workers.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis: successful treatment with squaric acid dibutylester.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare disorder characterized by disseminated cutaneous warts in predisposed patients who are highly susceptible to genus ß-papillomavirus infections. We present the case of a 40-year-old lymphocytopenic woman with a balanced chromosomal translocation and a 25-year history of refractory EV that was successfully treated with squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) contact immunotherapy.

Liver resection for metastatic colorectal leiomyosarcoma: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyosarcoma arising in the colorectum is a rare malignancy of the smooth muscles accounting for less than 1% of gastrointestinal tumors. Surgery remains the most accepted modality for the treatment of this entity however management of liver metastases remains controversial. METHODS & RESULTS: From 1998 to 2009, five patients diagnosed with primary leiomyosarcoma of colorectal origin with metastatic liver disease, underwent liver resections at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. The median overall survival was 47 months (range, 7-135 months). CONCLUSIONS: Leiomyosarcoma of colorectal origin with liver metastasis is a very rare entity. Long-term survival can be achieved after surgical resection and should be considered for all patients.