Diagnosis and Management of Cutaneous Lymphomas Including Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma.

The cutaneous lymphomas are malignancies of T-cell and B-cell lymphocytes in which the skin is the primary organ of involvement. The cutaneous T-cell lymphomas include variants that can mimic the presentation of common skin diseases or arthropod bites. Mycosis fungoides, the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, usually presents as fixed asymptomatic patches or plaques in sun-protected areas. The cutaneous B-cell lymphomas have fewer variants that often present as papules or nodules that can mimic nonmelanoma skin cancers. Some therapies for cutaneous lymphoma have unique side effects such as central hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral neuropathy.

Mite bites, comet signs and possible mammary prosthesis rejection after returning to a vacation home: a diagnostic challenge.

Pyemotes ventricosus is a free-living mite feeding on larvae or nymphs of insects, including moths, beetles, wasps and bees, that are usually found in grain, straw and firewood. When present in great number or when its food is lacking, it could accidentally bite mammals, including humans, causing a highly pruritic self-limiting dermatitis, sometimes followed by a lymphangitis known as "comet sign".We present a singular case of mite lymphangitis that surrounds and delimitates breast prosthesis in a 30-year-old Caucasian woman. Other bite in the lower abdomen did not present comet sign. The patient got the infestation in her vacation home in the South of Italy, uninhabited for 10 months since COVID-19 confinement. We hypothesize that the previous surgery made the lymphatic vessels more prone to inflammation and we compare other insect bites that can occur vacationing in a long period uninhabited room.A delayed diagnosis of comet sign implies a retarded fumigation allowing new mite bites and, in this case, extends the patient's preoccupation about the prosthesis rejection.

Rat bite injuries in children: description of a novel classification.

PURPOSE: Rats are common intruders into human settlements. Apart from their role as disease vectors, they can also cause bite injuries. We describe the clinical course of a series of children with rat bites, and characterise the injures. METHODS: A retrospective review of hospital records of children admitted for rat bites in a large regional hospital was undertaken. The demographics, wound characteristics, treatment given and clinical outcome of the patients are described. RESULTS: Fifty-nine children, with a mean age of 3.7 years, were admitted for rat bites. Three distinct types of wounds were treated: superficial scratches (Type I), deeper bites often with infection and ulceration (Type II) and full-thickness with loss of skin or underlying soft tissues (Type III). Few wounds displayed signs of inflammation. Only some Type II injuries required urgent local surgery in the form of drainage and debridement. Type III wounds required a skin graft. All patients recovered. CONCLUSION: We suggest that treatment of rat bites should be based on the wound type. Most patients do not require hospital admission or antibiotic treatment. Treatment should be mostly conservative wound care management. Surgery is only indicated for drainage of pus, debridement, skin graft or rarely reconstruction.

An outbreak of acute hemorrhagic papules on the posterior neck in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Within a two-week timespan in April 2020, multiple children presented with hemorrhagic macules, papules, and erosions localized to the posterior neck and occipital scalp. All of these patients were children of health care workers, with at least one confirmed COVID-19 exposure. The unique lesional morphology and the timing of onset led to SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for all and biopsy of one child. Biopsy ultimately confirmed these lesions were consistent with arthropod bites, which coincided with an unprecedented surge in local populations of Simulium tuberosum, a biting gnat.

Algunos aspectos clínicos y epidemiológicos relacionados con mordeduras de perro en niños / Some clinical and epidemiological aspects related to dog bites in children

Introducción: Las mordeduras de perro afectan fundamentalmente a pacientes en la edad pediátrica, estas engendran peligros como secuelas estéticas y la posibilidad implícita de transmisibilidad del virus de la rabia a seres humanos. Objetivo: caracterizar el comportamiento clínico-epidemiológico de las mordeduras de perro en niños. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, longitudinal y prospectivo en pacientes con diagnóstico de mordedura de perro con necesidad de inmunización pasiva y activa, ingresados en el Servicio de Miscelánea del Hospital Infantil Sur Antonio María Béguez César de Santiago de Cuba, del 1ro de enero de 2017 al 31 de diciembre de 2018. Resultados: En los pacientes incluidos en el estudio predominaron los del sexo masculino (57,7 por ciento), los grupos de edades de 1 a 5 años 11 meses y 29 días, y de 6 a 10 años 11 meses y 29 días fueron los de mayor incidencia. Aunque no existió asociación estadística entre la localización anatómica de las lesiones y la edad, fueron las de miembros inferiores las más frecuentes en todas las edades con 63 pacientes (40,4 por ciento); destacándose como complicaciones la celulitis, las lesiones óseas y las secuelas estéticas; ningún niño presentó infección rábica. En el 50 por ciento de los casos la mordedura ocurrió en el horario nocturno y los perros de otro domicilio causaron la mayor parte de las agresiones. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico de mordeduras de perro se realizó con mayor frecuencia en niños del sexo masculino de uno y más años, en el horario nocturno y la principal complicación fue la celulitis(AU)

Introduction: Dog bites mainly affect patients in pediatric ages. They pose dangers such as esthetic sequels and the implicit possibility of transmission of the rabies virus to human beings. Objective: Characterize the clinical-epidemiological behavior of dog bites in children. Methods: An observational longitudinal prospective study was conducted of patients diagnosed with dog bite requiring passive and active immunization admitted to the Miscellany Service of Antonio María Béguez César South Children's Hospital in Santiago de Cuba from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018. Results: Among the patients included in the study there was a predominance of the male sex (57.7 percent). The age groups 1 to 5 years 11 months and 29 days and 6 to 10 years 11 months and 29 days showed the greatest incidence. Though no statistical association was found between anatomical location of the injuries and age, bites on the lower limbs were the most common at all ages with 63 patients (40.4 percent). Outstanding complications were cellulitis, bone lesions and esthetic sequels. No child had rabies infection. In 50 percent of the cases the bite occurred in the night hours. Most of the attacks were performed by dogs from other households. Conclusions: Dog bite diagnosis was more common among male children aged one year and over. Most bites occurred in the night hours. The main complication was cellulitis(AU)

Thoracic dog bite wounds in dogs: A retrospective study of 123 cases (2003-2016).

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical, radiographic, and surgical findings and determine prognostic factors for outcome in dogs with thoracic dog bite wounds. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n = 123). METHODS: Medical records of dogs with thoracic dog bite wounds between October 2003 to July 2016 were reviewed for presenting findings, management, and outcomes. Standard wound management included debridement and sterile probing, extending the level of exploration to the depth of the wound. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to assess risk factors for exploratory thoracotomy, lung lobectomy, and mortality. RESULTS: Twenty-five dogs underwent exploratory thoracotomy, including lung lobectomy in 12 of these dogs. Presence of pneumothorax (odds ratio [OR] 25.4, confidence interval (CI) 5.2-123.2, P < .001), pseudo-flail chest (OR 15.8, CI 3.2-77.3, P = .001), or rib fracture (OR 11.2, CI 2.5-51.2, P = .002) was associated with increased odds of undergoing exploratory thoracotomy. Presence of pleural effusion (OR 12.1, CI 1.2-120.2, P = .033) and obtaining a positive bacterial culture (OR 23.4, CI 1.6-337.9, P = .021) were associated with increased odds of mortality. The level of wound management correlated with the length of hospitalization (Spearman rank order correlation = 0.52, P < .001) but was not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Dogs that sustained pseudo-flail chest, rib fracture, or pneumothorax were more likely to undergo exploratory thoracotomy. Nonsurvival was more likely in dogs with pleural effusion or positive bacterial culture. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Presence of pseudo-flail, rib fracture, or pneumothorax should raise suspicion of intrathoracic injury. Strong consideration should be given to radiography, surgical exploration, and debridement of all thoracic dog bite wounds.

An Epidemiological Analysis of Pediatric Dog Bite Injuries Over a Decade.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 800,000 dog bites require medical attention every year. The purpose of this study is to review the characteristics of dog bite injuries in children and examine temporal trends. METHODS: The Kids' Inpatient Database was used to identify pediatric patients with dog bite injuries over a 10-y period. Demographic data, primary payer, injury characteristics, length of hospitalization, and treatments were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed in SAS 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). RESULTS: A total of 6308 patients were identified. Average age at time of injury was 6.4 ± 4.3 y. Children under age 5 y were the most affected subgroup (39.3% in 2000 versus 44.7% in 2009, P < 0.001). Most bites were to the head/neck and significantly increased from 53.9% in 2000 to 60.1% in 2009. Cellulitis complicated many injuries (33.7% in 2000 versus 44.8% in 2009, P < 0.001). Overall, 50% of patients underwent a procedure; 31% had an invasive surgical procedure; and 5.1% of patients required skin grafts or flaps. CONCLUSIONS: Dog bites are a common cause of pediatric injuries and are a significant burden on families and the health care system. Evaluating the characteristics of these injuries can guide educational efforts.

Infection of lung cavitations in a young dog owner with Hodgkin's lymphoma caused by Pasteurella multocida, without a dog bite: confirmed zoonotic transmission by tagmentation microbiome analysis.

Pasteurella multocida is a known pathogen in humans, mostly reported after animal bite incidents. Atraumatic infections have been described, especially in immunocompromised patients. A 20-year-old patient with a history of stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma with cavitating pulmonary lesions presented with a bilateral pneumonia. Shortly after finishing antibiotic treatment, she quickly developed the same symptoms of pneumonia. Bronchoscopy showed a large cavity in the right upper lobe and P. multocida was isolated from all bronchial cultures. The transmission route of P. multocida via the patient's dog was confirmed by sampling the full genome of the dog's mouth, which matched the unique P. multocida sequences found in the patient. This case demonstrates the importance of accurately determining the aetiology of the patient's symptoms, and Pasteurella infection should be considered in all immunocompromised patients with domestic animal contact, even without a bite incident.

Pasteurella multocida line infection: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: There are as many as 300,000 visits to the emergency department in the USA with animal bites every year. The most common infection after cat or dog bite is with Pasteurella Multocida. Many people infected will also have long-term central venous access for dialysis or for other reasons. No prior reports or guidelines exist regarding the management of P. multocida bacteremia due to line infection or bacteremia in the presence of long-term central venous access. We describe the successful treatment of an individual with P. multocida bacteremia secondary to tunnelled line infection managed with line retention. CASE PRESENTATION: A 21 year-old man with a history of granulomatosis with polyangiitis on home hemodialysis presented with fever and hypotension 3 days after dialysis catheter replacement. The patient was found to be bacteremic with Pasteurella Multocida and he subsequently reported a history of cat bite to his dialysis catheter. He declined removal of the tunnelled catheter and was thereafter treated for a total of 2 weeks with intravenous ceftazidime post-dialysis and gentamicin line-locks without recurrence of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Pasteurella Multocida bacteremia in the presence of a long-term central venous catheter is potentially curable using 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics and line retention. Further data regarding outcomes of treatment in this setting are required though in select cases clinicians faced with a similar scenario could opt for trial of intravenous therapy and retention of central venous catheter.

Ocular manifestations of isolated corneal bee sting injury, management strategies, and clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the presenting features, management strategies, and clinical outcome following bee sting injury to the cornea. METHODS: Retrospective case series involving 11 eyes of 11 patients with corneal bee sting injuries who presented over a period of 2 years. Nine of these 11 eyes had the presence of intact bee stinger in the cornea, which was removed immediately under an operating microscope and sent for microbiological and histopathological evaluation. The patients were managed as per the individual treatment protocol of the respective treating physicians. RESULTS: Six eyes (54.5%) had a good clinical outcome (best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] >20/40) with medical therapy alone with no need for surgical intervention. Five eyes (45.5%) had a poor clinical outcome (BCVA <20/40) with medical therapy and required surgery; of which three required a combined penetrating keratoplasty with cataract surgery, while one required isolated cataract surgery and one underwent penetrating keratoplasty. Glaucoma was present in 3/5 eyes undergoing surgery, one of which required a trabeculectomy. Five of the six eyes who had a good clinical outcome with medical therapy alone had been treated with concomitant oral steroids, along with topical antibiotic-steroid combination therapy. CONCLUSION: Oral corticosteroid supplementation to the topical steroid antibiotic treatment in patients with corneal bee sting injury where corneal involvement and anterior reaction is severe at presentation or inflammation not ameliorating with topical steroids alone prevents serious vision-threatening complications such as corneal decompensation, cataract, and glaucoma.

Watch Out for Wild Animals: A Systematic Review of Upper Extremity Injuries Caused by Uncommon Species.

BACKGROUND: Across the world, many species of nondomesticated animals dwell among humans in metropolitan areas. Rare animal bites pose a dilemma for hand surgeons, as they often result in operative injuries and recalcitrant infections. The authors treated an 85-year-old man who experienced severe cellulitis of the index finger following an opossum bite. This case prompted a systematic review of upper extremity injuries caused by species other than dogs, cats, snakes, and insects. METHODS: The authors conducted a systematic review of PubMed and Scopus databases to identify relevant articles published between 1980 and 2016. Two reviewers critically appraised the studies that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: The hand infection in the man who sustained an opossum bite at the authors' institution was successfully treated with targeted antibiotic therapy, hand elevation, and splinting. Seventy-one articles met inclusion criteria for and were included in this systematic review. The vast majority of existing articles represent level IV and level V evidence. The relevant literature suggests that the majority of hand infections attributable to animal bites and stings are polymicrobial. CONCLUSIONS: Injuries secondary to aquatic animals appear to be the most frequently described in the literature, and hot water immersion should be used for the majority of envenomation attributable to aquatic species. Infections can often be treated with an aminopenicillin antibiotic combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Given the variability in presentation and potential for sequelae such as soft-tissue necrosis and systemic reactions, hand surgeons should approach such upper extremity injuries with a high degree of caution.

Imported fire ant envenomation: A clinicopathologic study of a recognizable form of arthropod assault reaction.

BACKGROUND: Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features. METHODS: One case of experimental envenomation was prospectively followed during 48 hours, with biopsies. In addition, 6 cases from our laboratory were retrospectively evaluated histopathologically for the following features: spongiosis, exocytosis (and type of cells), pustule formation, erosion/ulceration, epidermal necrosis, scale/crust, papillary dermal edema, inflammatory dermal infiltrate (cell type, density, depth, distribution, shape), red blood cell extravasation, vasculopathy and vasculitis. RESULTS: The typical lesion follows a very distinctive clinical and histopathologic evolution over 48 hours, with the formation of a subepidermal pustule overlying a wedge-shaped area of dermal collagen basophilic degeneration with scattered neutrophils. In the 6 cases retrieved from our files, the main features were a superficial and deep dermal, perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, with basophilic degeneration of the collagen. A subepidermal pustule was noted in half of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: In biopsies taken in a clinical setting, even in the absence of the characteristic subepidermal pustule, the diagnosis of imported fire ant sting can be suspected if there is a superficial and deep perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate composed of neutrophils, with some basophilic denaturation of collagen.

Rapidly Progressive Quadriplegia and Encephalopathy.

A woman aged 77 years was transferred to our neurocritical care unit for evaluation and treatment of rapidly progressive motor weakness and encephalopathy. Examination revealed an ability to follow simple commands only and abnormal movements, including myoclonus, tongue and orofacial dyskinesias, and opsoclonus. Imaging study findings were initially unremarkable, but when repeated, they demonstrated enhancement of the cauda equina nerve roots, trigeminal nerve, and pachymeninges. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed mildly elevated white blood cell count and protein levels. Serial electrodiagnostic testing demonstrated a rapidly progressive diffuse sensory motor axonopathy, and electroencephalogram findings progressed from generalized slowing to bilateral periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges. Critical details of her recent history prompted a diagnostic biopsy. Over time, the patient became completely unresponsive with no further abnormal movements and ultimately died. The differential diagnosis, pathological findings, and diagnosis are discussed with a brief review of a well-known yet rare diagnosis.

Ocular Trauma From Dog Bites: Characterization, Associations, and Treatment Patterns at a Regional Level I Trauma Center Over 11 Years.

PURPOSE: Canine bites frequently result in periocular injury. The authors aimed to further characterize the dog breeds, types of injuries inflicted, and treatment outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all dog bites recorded in the University of Washington trauma registry from 2003 to 2013. Cases involving ocular injury were further investigated to identify ocular tissues affected, treatment patterns, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 342 dog bite victims were identified, of whom 91 sustained ocular trauma (27%). The mean age of patients with ocular injuries was significantly lower than those without (14.1 ± 1.9 vs. 30.0 ± 1.3 years, p < 0.001). Children bitten by dogs were 4.2 times more likely to sustain ocular injuries than adults (45.2% vs. 10.8%). The most common breed of dog inflicting ocular injury was the pit bull (25%). Forty percent of patients with ocular trauma sustained canalicular lacerations and epiphora was noted in only 3 patients (8%) after repair. Three percent had orbital fractures and 2% sustained ruptured globes. Infections were rare, affecting only 2% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this study is the largest to date to report the incidence and characteristics of ocular injuries sustained from dog bites. These injuries were disproportionately more common in children and have a high incidence of canalicular laceration. Though rare, globe injuries and orbital fractures were seen in this population. Importantly, this study establishes that pit bulls are the most frequent breed associated with ocular injuries from dog bites.

Thorough debridement and immediate primary wound closure for animal bite injuries of the upper limbs.

PURPOSE: Animal bite injuries are often encountered in daily practice. In particular, these injuries of the upper limbs can result in severe functional impairment. We have performed early debridement of contaminated tissue and primary closure for these injuries. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 15 patients (6 males and 9 females) aged 1-91 years (mean 53.6 years) who visited our hospital due to animal bite injuries (dog in 9 patients, cat in 6). The bite site was the forearm in 5 patients and the hand in 10. In the operating room, contaminated tissue was removed, and primary wound closure was performed after irrigation. RESULTS: The bite penetrated to the muscle layer in 6 patients, tendon sheath in 5, joint in 1, bone in 1, and involved only the subcutaneous tissue in 3 patients. The mean period until the completion of wound treatment was 19.8 ± 8.4 days. As complications, numbness of finger, metaphalangeal joint contracture and superficial radial nerve injury were observed in each one case. In a patient with bite injury of the palmar and dorsal sides of the thumb reaching the bone, additional debridement was necessary. At the final observation, the visual analog scale was 1.2 ± 1.4, and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 9.7 ± 12.2. CONCLUSIONS: Debridement to achieve wound closure is indispensable in patients with animal bite injuries of the upper limbs. The results of our study suggest that thorough debridement allows primary closure, even for animal bite injuries.