Adverse effects of polychemotherapy for leprosy in 13 years of follow-up at a university hospital

Abstract Leprosy is one of the neglected diseases in the world and Brazil is the second country with more cases. A retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of 196 leprosy patients diagnosed during the course of 13 years at a university hospital. The aim was to describe the adverse effects of polychemotherapy, as well the most prevalent and most vulnerable populations. In the study, dapsone was the most implicated drug, especially in women, and the risk increased with age. The authors conclude that with this patient profile, greater vigilance should be taken regarding possible adverse effects, especially anemia.

Trichoscopy findings in dissecting cellulitis

Abstract Dissecting cellulitis is an inflammatory, chronic, and recurrent disease of the hair follicles that mainly affects young Afro-descendent men. Trichoscopy is a method of great diagnostic value for disorders of the scalp. Clinical and trichoscopic findings of dissecting cellulitis are heterogeneous and may present features common to non-cicatricial and scarring alopecia. This article presents the trichoscopic findings of dissecting cellulitis that help in the diagnosis and consequent institution of the appropriate therapy and better prognosis of the disease.

Contoured technique for lentigo maligna

The surgical approach to lentigo maligna is a challenge to dermatologists, given the difficulty of clinical delimitation of borders. We report here a case of a 69-year-old female patient presenting with brownish macules on her face, since 10 years ago, with histopathological diagnosis of lentigo maligna. The surgical management employed was excision of visible borders with the contoured technique and immediate submission of these borders for histopathological analysis before complete excision of the tumor. This technique is a variant of staged excision, with lower rates of recurrence and acceptable aesthetic results.

Agminate lichen aureus / Liquen aureus agminado

Lichen aureus is a rare variant of pigmented purpura, with a chronic and benign course. It is generally asymptomatic and often occurs in the lower limbs, presenting as erythematous brownish, coppery or golden macules and/or papules. The diagnosis is based on clinical and histopathological findings. The dermatoscopic pattern has been considered a useful tool in diagnosis presumption. We describe a case with a confluent morphological pattern, called agminate lichen aureus.

O líquen aureus é uma variante rara das púrpuras pigmentares, com evolução crônica e benigna. A maioria é assintomática e predomina nos membros inferiores. O quadro clínico é constituído por máculas e/ou pápulas eritemato-acastanhadas, acobreadas ou douradas. O diagnóstico é clínico e histopatológico, porém o padrão dermatoscópico vem sendo uma ferramenta útil na presunção do diagnóstico. Descrevemos um caso com um padrão morfológico em que a lesão é confluente, sendo denominado líquen aureus agminado.

Atrophic dermatofibroma / Dermatofibroma atrofico

Dermatofibroma is a benign fibrohistiocytic tumor, common and easily diagnosed when classical clinicopathologic features are present. The atrophic variant of dermatofibroma is of uncertain origin. This lesion is characterized clinically by a flat or atrophic and depressible surface. Histopathological features show reduction of the thickness of the dermis and elastic fibers. We report a typical case of this uncommon and probably underdiagnosed variant.

O dermatofibroma é um tumor fibrohistiocitário benigno, comum e facilmente diagnosticado quando apresenta os achados clinicopatológicos clássicos. O dermatofibroma atrófico é uma variante específica do dermatofibroma, de origem ainda incerta. Esta é caracterizada clinicamente por lesão plana ou atrófica, depressível à compressão. Ao exame histopatológico, observa-se redução da espessura da derme e redução das fibras elásticas. Relatamos um caso típico desta variante incomum e provavelmente subdiagnosticada.