Pathological findings of mammary gland carcinoma and hemangiosarcoma cases in two African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus).

There are few studies on diseases affecting endangered African wild dogs. We report our findings on malignant tumors in two African wild dogs. Case 1 was a 6-year-old intact female diagnosed with inflammatory mammary carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis. Case 2 was an 11-year-old male diagnosed with primary hemangiosarcoma of the left atrial coronary sulcus with metastasis to multiple organs. Additionally, the tumor had grown through the cardiac wall, causing cardiac tamponade. The identification of disease incidence trends provides important information which will allow for the early detection and treatment of malignant tumors, and aid in the conservation of this species.

A Case of Tinea Faciei due to Trichophyton indotineae with Steroid Rosacea Related to Topical Over-The-Counter Drugs Purchased Outside of Japan.

A Filipino woman in her forties had facial erythema that was being self-treated with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs purchased outside of Japan. The drugs included clobetasol propionate, antibiotic, and antifungal components. Her facial erythema symptoms were worse during summertime. KOH direct examination of annular erythema was positive for fungal hyphae and negative for Demodex folliculorum. Fungal culture revealed Trichophyton indotineae based on internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis. Minimal inhibitory concentration for terbinafine was 0.06 µg/mL. We made a diagnosis of tinea faciei with steroid rosacea. We treated the patient with oral itraconazole. Physicians should be aware of increasing T. indotineae infections and increasing self-medication using topical OTC steroids combined with antifungals and antibiotics not only in India but also among foreign people living in other countries such as Japan.

Skin Manifestations of Micafungin Breakthrough Disseminated Trichosporonosis in Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia.

Disseminated trichosporonosis is a rare fungal infection whose risk factors are hematological malignancies and neutropenia. Recently, breakthrough Trichosporon infections after administration of micafungin, the first-line systemic antifungal agent in compromised hosts, have been widely recognized. A man in his seventies about 1 month into chemotherapy for acute megakaryoblastic leukemia presented with a worsening fever and dyspnea. The patient was being administered with empirical micafungin therapy for suspected candidiasis. As the symptoms progressed, scattered erythema appeared on the trunk, some with a dark red vesicle at the center. Blood cultures identified Trichosporon asahii, as did the specimen of the skin biopsy. On the basis also of the presence of pneumonia on chest computed tomography, we confirmed the diagnosis of disseminated trichosporonosis and changed the antifungal agent from micafungin to voriconazole. Blood culture turned out to be negative 1 month after administrating voriconazole. However, the patient died of the leukemia. Our review of previous reports on cutaneous manifestations of disseminated trichosporonosis revealed that despite their morphological diversity, erythema with a red papule or vesicle at the center, implying necrosis, was also observed in previous cases. Our case report suggests that dermatologists should be aware of skin manifestations of disseminated trichosporonosis after micafungin administration, especially in cases of hematological malignancies.

Medallion-like dermal dendrocyte hamartoma: A rare congenital CD34-positive dermal lesion clinically and pathologically overlapping with fibroblastic connective tissue nevus.

Both medallion-like dermal dendrocyte hamartoma and fibroblastic connective tissue nevus are rare benign dermal lesions composed of CD34-positive spindle cells. Although regarded as different diseases, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them due to their clinical and pathological similarities. We present a case of medallion-like dermal dendrocyte hamartoma that could also be diagnosed as fibroblastic connective tissue nevus and propose the possibility of overlap in these diseases.

Practical Management of Deep Cutaneous Fungal Infections.

Understanding deep cutaneous fungal infection requires not only reading many case reports and checking the typical clinical images of skin lesions, but also managing the patients properly to prevent misdiagnosis. Herein, I review my recent experiences with eight typical cases of deep cutaneous infections (including protothecosis and nocardiosis) in Japan. It is very important to do the four management processes; namely, KOH direct microscopic examination, skin biopsy, fungal culture, and microscopic examination of the histopathological specimen of PAS and Grocott staining. Also, to aid in memorizing the names of important diseases, I recommend the mnemonic "AC PPPS MD" (Aspergillosis, Cryptococcosis, Phaeohyphomycosis, Protothecosis, Pseudoallescheriosis, Sporotrichosis, Mycetoma, and Dermatophytosis). Isolation of the fungus by culturing from the skin lesion is the best way to carry out quick and correct diagnosis.

[A Case of Peristomal Cutaneous Ulcer Following Amebic Colitis Caused by Entamoeba histolytica].

A 66-year-old Japanese male with a history of a rectal ulcer and rectovesical fistula following brachytherapy and radiotherapy for prostate cancer, who had undergone colostomy and vesicotomy presented with a painful peristomal ulcer of approximately 5 x 2.5cm adjacent to the direction of 6 o'clock of the stoma in his left lower abdomen. Although he was admitted to be treated with intravenous antibiotics and topical debridement, the ulcer was rapidly increasing. In the laboratory findings, WBC was 12,400/µL, CRP was 16.9 mg/dL, ESR was 105mm in the first hour. Contrast enhanced CT images showed a wide high density area of skin and subcutaneous tissue around the stoma and dillitation of the transverse and descending colon. Colonoscopy showed furred profound ulcers in the rectum. A biopsy from the ulcer floor submitted to histopathology showed necrotic tissue with a mixed inflammatory infiltrates mainly composed of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the dermis. We suspected pyoderma gangrenosum with an inflammatory bowel disease in the beginning. Although he was started on oral prednisolone 60 mg daily, the ulcer did not respond to treatment. Additional methylprednisolone pulse therapy, intravenous cyclosporine and granulocytapheresis were also ineffective. A biopsy specimen from the skin ulcer margin showed erythrophagocytosis by trophozoites of amebae which were identified on PAS stained slides. The PCR method and stool examination showed positive for Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), but serum antibodies were negative. Within two weeks of treatment with oral metronidazole 2,250 mg/day and topical metronidazole ointment, resolution of the ulcer was observed, then the prednisolone dosage was tapered. A split-thickness skin graft was used to cover the ulcer with a successful result. Even though we originally misdiagnosed this case, we finally reached a diagnosis of amebiasis. It is important to take account of amebiasis in the differential diagnosis of intractable ulcers which can be contaminated by feces.

Application of electron microscopic analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization technique for the successful diagnosis of extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma.

The diagnosis of soft tissue tumors is often challenging. Immunohistochemical investigation, let alone routine histopathological investigation, may not allow definitive diagnosis in some cases. To overcome such difficulties, more advanced techniques need to be adopted. Herein, we report an extremely rare 56-year-old Japanese female case of extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma (ES), successfully diagnosed by electron microscopy (EM) using formalin-fixed sections and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The patient had a 2-year history of a tumor growing on the leg. In routine histopathology, invasive proliferation of tumor cells was observed in the dermis. Tumor cells were round and uniform with large hyperchromatic nuclei, which were positively stained for CD56, VS38c, Ki-67, MIC2 and vimentin, but not for pan-keratin AE1 + AE3, cytokeratin 20, chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase. As these findings were not conclusive to make the final diagnosis, EM specimens were prepared from formalin-fixed sections and subjected to investigation. Cell surface projections and dense core granules were detected, suggestive of either Merkel cell carcinoma or extraskeletal ES. Subsequent FISH analysis identified reciprocal translocation of the ESWR1 gene, enabling the final diagnosis of extraskeletal ES. This study provides useful information enabling the diagnosis of this uncommon soft tissue tumor.

[Case of primary cutaneous Aspergillus caldioustus infection caused by nerve block therapy].

We report a case of primary cutaneous Aspergillus caldioustus infection caused by nerve block therapy. A 67-year-old Japanese woman had been treated with oral predonisolon and tacrolimus for adult-onset Still disease and interstitial pneumonia. She presented with a 2-month-history of the lesions on the left back. A biopsy specimen from the skin lesion revealed granulomatous inflammation with hyphae. Culture of the pus and the skin specimen confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous Aspergillus infection. The sequence of ß- tubulin gene was analyzed to confirm the mycological diagnosis and the causative agent was identified as A. caldioustus. The patient was treated with surgical removal of the lesions and oral 200 mg/day itraconazole but she died of infectious interstitial pneumonia due to Pneumocystis jiroveci and Cytomegalovirus infection Percutaneous infection may have been responsible for the incidence of localized infection. There was no evidence of systemic aspergillosis. A. caldioustus is an emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Immunocompromised patients who have persistent traumatic atypical skin lesion need to be ruled out of such rare fungus infection. An opportunistic infection in Immunocompromised patients can be life-threatening and prompt treatment based on accurate diagnosis is important.

A case of blastomycosis-like pyoderma caused by mixed infection of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Trichophyton rubrum.

Blastomycosis-like pyoderma (BLP) is a type of chronic pyoderma characterized histologically by specific epidermal changes namely: pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and intraepithelial abscesses. These epidermal changes are also seen in blastomycosis (referred to as deep dermatophytosis in North America). Here, we describe the case of a 53-year-old male with prurigo nodularis, diabetes, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with multiple yellowish-red colored papules that coalesced to form a vegetating plaque. In addition to the typical features of BLP, spores with budding were seen histopathologically in a biopsy specimen. Cultures of a skin specimen grew Staphylococcus epidermidis and Trichophyton rubrum. Antibiotic therapy was effective but failed to eliminate the lesion until antifungal therapy using terbinafine was administered concurrently. Past reports suggest that BLP is mainly caused by bacterial infection, but our case suggests that fungal infection can also be involved as the causative organism in BLP.

[Case of cutaneous Pseudallescheria boydii infection caused by trauma].

Pseudallescheria boydii is a ubiquitous filamentous fungus. We report a case of cutaneous P. boydii infection of the left knee in a 79-year-old Japanese man who was receiving oral predonisolone (25 mg/day) for radiation pneumonitis after radiation therapy on left breast cancer. He presented with a 2-week-history of a lesion on the left knee. A biopsy specimen from the skin lesion revealed granulomatous inflammation with hyphae. Culture of the pus from the skin specimen confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous P. boydii infection. rDNA ITS sequence was analyzed to confirm the mycological diagnosis. The patient was treated orally with 200 mg/day of itraconazole. The lesion was gradually cured and left a hypertrophic scar. Cutaneous injury may be responsible for an incidence of localized infection. Such rare fungus infection in immunocompromised patients who have a persistent traumatic skin ulcer needs to be ruled out. An opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients can be life-threatening and prompt treatment based on accurate diagnosis is important.

Rapid growth of malignant melanoma in pregnancy.

Malignant melanoma during pregnancy is a difficult problem as a variety of risks to both the mother and fetus must be weighed. We describe a rapidly progressive malignant melanoma diagnosed during pregnancy. There are no standarized guidelines for treatment; each case requires an individualized approach. We review the literature and present an algorithm to aid in approaching such patients.

Human papillomavirus associated with Bowen's disease of the finger.

We report here a case of Bowen's disease that developed in the periungual area of the left ring finger of a 55-year-old Japanese male. Because the histology of the lesion mimicked in part the features of a common wart, a PCR-based analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and sequencing of viral DNA of PCR-amplified fragments were performed. The lesion contained HPV11 and 16 DNA, and HPV was suspected to play a role in the development of the lesion.