ABSTRACT
Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is a rare type of pustular psoriasis that causes periungual sterile pustules, paronychia, onychodystrophy, osteolysis, and atrophic skin. This condition is known for being resistant to conventional anti-psoriatic treatments. Therefore, biologics have been explored as potential management options for ACH. A 48-year-old male presented with erythematous swelling, pustular eruptions, desquamation, and nail dystrophy on his left third fingertip for a year. Despite various anti-psoriatic treatments, including 308 nm excimer laser, oral cyclosporine, acitretin, and methotrexate, the symptoms persisted. After 9 years of experiencing this condition, the patient was started on guselkumab (an interleukin-23 inhibitor), and showed significant improvement after eight injections. The patient was in good health without any adverse effects. This case report highlights the potential effectiveness of guselkumab in the treatment of refractory ACH.
ABSTRACT
A 54-year-old man presented to our outpatient clinic with generalized pruritic millet-sized vesicles, pustules, and crusts on the whole body over the past 10 years, which were more dominant in the lower extremities. Due to the difficulty in diagnosis, a series of histopathologic examinations were conducted during the treatment course, and the findings were similar: subcorneal pustules with neutrophils, superficial perivascular and dermal infiltration of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils, with no sign of acantholysis. The patient was treated with cyclosporine, prednisolone, doxycycline, colchicine, sulfasalazine, and acitretin; however, his condition did not improve. After showing a dramatic improvement with dapsone, he was finally diagnosed with subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD).Various medications commonly used in inflammatory and immunobullous skin diseases were tried but failed to improve the condition; the patient showed a dramatic response only to dapsone. Due to its rarity, careful attention and repeated biopsies are required for diagnosing SPD.
ABSTRACT
Owing to advances in diagnostics and the increase in invasive procedures, and immunocompromised patients, cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is rising. NTM should be suspected in patients with persistent skin lesions refractory to treatment with a history of immunosuppression or skin injury. A 59-year-old woman presented with a 4-week history of multiple erythematous tender nodules on left arm. A year prior, multiple nodules appeared on left hand dorsum, followed by recurrent suppurative nodules in left arm. She has been taking methotrexate and leflunomide for 7 years due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Skin biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation, and NTM polymerase chain reaction test was positive. Furthermore, she had cut her left finger with a knife 14 months ago. Based on these findings, cutaneous NTM infection was diagnosed. Herein, we report a case of cutaneous NTM infection in an immunosuppressed patient with RA, emphasizing differentiating subcutaneous nodules from rheumatoid nodules in RA.
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Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly employed in the management of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. We report the case of a 73-year-old man who presented with a persistent cough lasting for 1 month. He had an 11-year history of psoriasis and had received MTX (10.0 mg/wk) over the past 21 months. High-resolution chest computed tomography revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities and bronchiectasis affecting both lung fields. Based on clinical and radiological assessments, the patient was diagnosed with MTX-induced interstitial pneumonia. Notably, significant clinical and radiological improvement was observed 1 month after the discontinuation of MTX and corticosteroid administration. Although some reports have demonstrated lung toxicity in patients receiving high-dose MTX therapy, cases of adverse pulmonary effects following low-dose treatment in patients with psoriasis are rare.This case report underscores the rarity of interstitial pneumonia in a patient with psoriasis undergoing MTX treatment in Korea.
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The Department of Dermatology at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, initially the Dermatology Department of the Private Daegu Medical Training School in 1924, commemorated its 100th anniversary in 2023.Throughout its rich history, the department has been dedicated to advancing contemporary dermatology and enhancing the well-being of local communities through exceptional research, education, and social contributions.Initially tasked with the diagnosis, treatment, and education of patients with dermatological and urological disorders, the department evolved over time. In 1958, it separated from the Urology Department to focus solely on the diagnosis, research, and education of dermatological disorders. In 1962, Dr. Soon Bong Suh became the inaugural Chief of the Dermatology Department, marking the foundation of the Kyungpook National University School of Medicine’s Dermatology Department. Our legacy of pioneering contributions extends to dermatophytic diseases, which account for a large proportion of skin disorders in Korea, where we have excelled in basic research and treatment. These achievements have played a crucial role in the advancement of dermatophytic diseases.Subsequently, we have demonstrated expertise in blistering diseases and dermatopathology, making substantial contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of refractory skin conditions. Recently, we have been at the forefront of research and interventions for chronic inflammatory skin conditions that cause significant distress in many individuals, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Our influence has also extended to severe and refractory skin disorders, including skin cancer and vascular anomalies. Striving to stay contemporary, our achievements now encompass aesthetics, including acne, pigmentation, and laser treatments. Our accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition nationwide, engendering high expectations for future advancements.
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Background@#Angiosarcoma (AS) and Kaposi sarcoma (KS) are rare malignant and borderline malignant vascular tumors that may first present to a dermatologist. There are few Korean studies that particularly focus on their survival due to low incidence. @*Objective@#To investigate the survival and prognostic factors among patients with AS and KS, in addition to their clinical features. @*Methods@#Between 2000∼2021, medical records of 26 AS and 26 KS patients at a single center were analyzed retrospectively. Additionally, we calculated the disease specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) of two diseases. @*Results@#The mean age of patients with AS was 72.9 years and 67.3 years for KS. The most common tumor location was the scalp in patients with AS (80.8%) and the foot (65.4%) in those with KS. In patients with AS, 1-year DSS and OS rates were 36.0% and 34.6%, respectively. Five-year DSS and OS rates were 24.0% and 20.2%, respectively. In patients with KS, the 1-year DSS and OS rates were 96.2% and 84.6%, respectively. The 5-year DSS and OS were 91.6% and 58.0%, respectively. Patients who were older or had larger lesions than average had decreased DSS and OS in AS. Among the patients with KS, immunosuppressed status, including human immunodeficiency virus infection, showed reduced OS. @*Conclusion@#Apart from confirming grave survival of AS and favorable survival of KS, patient’s age and size of lesion affect survival outcomes in patients with AS. Otherwise, immunosuppressed status affects survival outcomes in patients with KS.
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Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a relatively uncommon CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder with a good prognosis. However, it is important to be cautious because 4%∼25% of the cases are accompanied by secondary lymphoma. LyP is divided into subtypes of infiltrate-descriptive categories based on the histological findings. Classically, LyP shows a patchy, wedge-shaped, dermal infiltrate of small to intermediate-sized lymphocytes, with atypical lymphoid cells and a variable mixture of neutrophils, histiocytes, and eosinophils. Follicular LyP (type F LyP), which was recently described and is not yet included as an official subtype in the World Health Organization classification, shares these characteristics, although its infiltrate is folliculocentric. Variable folliculotropism, follicular dilation, rupture, and mucinosis can occur. This entity is commonly misdiagnosed and is possibly underreported because its histopathologic features can masquerade as more common follicular-based entities. Herein, we report the case of follicular type LyP, which has not been reported in in Korean dermatology literature.
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It is important to differentiate violaceous to dusky red papules and plaques that widely persist on the trunk and extremities because there are dermatoses that could be fatal, such as lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, drug eruptions, and graft-versus-host disease.Dyskeratotic cells only in the upper epidermis and horny layer are not well known, but it is a distinctive histopathological pattern of atypical type of rash of adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). AOSD rash is a transient salmon-colored rash that occurs and disappears with fever; however, an atypical type of rash called “persistent dermal plaque” or “persistent pruritic eruptions” has also been reported. It occurs and persists even after fever subsides.Herein, we describe a case with necrotic dyskeratotic cells in the upper epidermis and horny layer without AOSD symptoms lasting for five years.
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A poroma is a benign adnexal neoplasm originating from the sweat gland duct. It usually presents clinically as a soft erythematous or flesh-colored papule, plaque, or nodule on the palms and soles. In most cases, poromas manifest as a solitary lesion, but rarely, multiple lesions have been reported and are defined as poromatosis.Although the pathogenesis is unclear, poromatosis is known to be associated with actinic damage, human papillomavirus infection, radiation therapy, or polychemotherapy. Herein, we describe a 53-year-old woman who had multiple erythematous papules on her feet for a year. She had a medical history of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had undergone polychemotherapy with stem cell transplantation. To our knowledge, poromatosis related to chemotherapy is a rare entity, and our case could be attributed to the theory that using polychemotherapy can induce poromatosis.
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Background@#Tumoral calcinosis is characterized by the deposition of calcific masses around major joints, and it often causes significant impairment of joint function. Dermatologists sometimes encounter patients with a subcutaneous hard mass around the joint. However, there are few studies about tumoral calcinosis in the dermatologic literature, especially in Korea. @*Objective@#The aim of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of tumoral calcinosis. @*Methods@#We reviewed the clinical photographs, medical records, and biopsy specimens of 11 cases of tumoral calcinosis seen at our clinic in 10 years. @*Results@#All 11 patients were female, and the mean age at onset was 58.5 years. The mean duration of the disease was 7.1 years. Most patients (9, 81.8%) presented with an asymptomatic subcutaneous hard mass around the iliac crest. None of the patients had a family history, or abnormal serum calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels. All patients underwent surgery for treatment. @*Conclusion@#Tumoral calcinosis can occur sporadically without metabolic disease. Therefore, careful history taking and biochemical work-up involving the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus should be performed. If there is no peculiarityon examination, the lesion is cured by resection. Although the sample size of this study is small, it can be inferred that the characteristics of tumoral calcinosis in Korea can be described by its predominant sex preponderance and location, that is, the female sex and the iliac crest, respectively.
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BACKGROUND: Secukinumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin (IL)-17A, which is a central cytokine in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, has emerged as a promising treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. However, to date, there are no real-world data for secukinumab in Korean patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Korean patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Prospective data were gathered during follow-up from 28 consecutive patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis treated with secukinumab for minimum of 12 weeks at a single referral center. Patient demographics, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, Physicians' Global Assessment (PGA), Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI), and adverse events were investigated. RESULTS: The mean PASI score was significantly decreased after the induction period of secukinumab treatment (paired t-test, p<0.05). Of the 28 patients, 17 (60.7%) had obtained near complete clearance (PASI 90) at the last follow-up visit. No unexpected adverse events, other than nasopharyngitis, were observed. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab can be of benefit for the treatment of Korean patients with psoriasis, as the treatment was associated with a rapid and satisfactory response and safety profile.
Subject(s)
Humans , Demography , Follow-Up Studies , Interleukins , Korea , Nasopharyngitis , Prospective Studies , Psoriasis , Quality of Life , Referral and Consultation , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Unilateral linear capillaritis (ULC) is a rare variant of pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD). ULC is clinically characterized by unilateral linear macules on the lower extremities, which fade spontaneously. We present three patients with linearly distributed purpuric macules on only one side of the lower extremities. Skin biopsy showed histopathological features of PPDs. We diagnosed ULC based on these clinicopathological findings. For all patients, the skin lesions began to fade spontaneously within several months to a few years after onset. ULC has been reported rarely, with only about 20 cases worldwide and no cases described in the Korean literature.