Unusual presentations of chronic graft versus host disease.

Skin is commonly affected by graft versus host disease (GVHD), a complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). One-third of hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients develop acute eruption classically described as folliculocentric, maculopapular, or morbilliform, in contrast to the more common chronic presentations of sclerotic, poikilodermic, or lichenoid dermatitides. With the wider use of non-myeloablative (reduced-intensity) transplant therapy, various atypical presentations can occur, representing a diagnostic challenge. Herein, we report an unusual case of chronic GVHD manifested by two distinct clinical and histopathological features lacking the classical presentation. Five months after her BMT, the patient presented with a papulosquamous eruption on her neck, trunk, and arms showing a psoriasiform histopathological pattern of chronic GVHD. She also demonstrated multiple small flesh-colored papules on her distal extremities showing a solitary syringotropic pattern of GVHD, demonstrated by interface dermatitis involving the superficial eccrine duct, as the only diagnostic histopathological feature of GVHD. This report, with review of literature, highlights the uncommon psoriasiform GVHD and the novel description of isolated syringotropic chronic GVHD.

Sarcoidosis with small syringotropic granulomas presenting clinically as a pigmented purpuric dermatosis: Inconspicuous clinical and histopathological clues to systemic illness.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease with a myriad of clinical manifestations and a predilection to involve the lungs, eyes, lymph nodes, and skin. A 38-year-old man presented to dermatology with a history of progressive dyspnea, pulmonary consolidations on chest X-ray, and hilar adenopathy on computed tomography scan. Skin exam revealed asymptomatic, yellow to brown macules on the right lower extremity. Biopsy of a lesion showed diminutive syringotropic granulomas and perivascular hemosiderin; stains for bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi were negative. Subsequent fine needle aspiration of a hilar mass revealed non-necrotizing epithelioid granulomas further supporting a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The patient was placed on systemic steroids and had improvement of his pulmonary symptoms and stabilization of his hilar lymphadenopathy without resolution of his pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) like lesions. Only three prior cases of syringotropic sarcoidosis have been reported; however, the biopsies had revealed conspicuously large granulomas in contrast with the small granulomas in our case, and none of the prior patients had clinical examination findings that mimicked PPD. Recognition of rare dermatologic and histopathological appearances of sarcoidosis is paramount as cutaneous sarcoidosis may be the harbinger of a systemic illness, which requires a timely diagnosis.

Significance of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations to Plastic Surgery Residency Training.

INTRODUCTION: Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) have proven to be a powerful tool. They possess more than a 30-year track record in assessing the competency of medical students, residents, and fellows. Objective structured clinical examinations have been used successfully in a variety of medical specialties, including surgery. They have recently found their way into the subspecialty of plastic surgery. METHODS: This article uses a systematic review of the available literature on OSCEs and their recent use in plastic surgery. It incorporates survey results assessing program directors' views on the use of OSCEs. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of programs surveyed use OSCEs to assess the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies. We found that 40% use OSCEs to evaluate specific plastic surgery milestones. Objective structured clinical examinations are usually performed annually. They cost anywhere between $100 and more than $1000 per resident. Four milestones giving residents the most difficulties on OSCEs were congenital anomalies, noncancer breast surgery, breast reconstruction, and practice-based learning and improvement. It was determined that challenges with milestones were due to lack of adequate general knowledge and surgical ward patient care, as well as deficits in professionalism and system-based problems. Programs were able to remediate weakness found by OSCEs using a variety of methods. CONCLUSIONS: Objective structured clinical examinations offer a unique tool to objectively assess the proficiency of residents in key areas of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies. In addition, they can be used to assess the specific milestones that plastic surgery residents must meet. This allows programs to identify and improve identified areas of weakness.

Outbreak or pseudo-outbreak? Integrating SARS-CoV-2 sequencing to validate infection control practices in a dialysis facility.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a particularly high risk for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients so rapid identification of case clusters in ESRD facilities is essential. Nevertheless, with high community prevalence, a series of ESRD patients may test positive contemporaneously for reasons unrelated to their shared ESRD facility. Here we describe a series of 5 cases detected within 11 days in November 2020 in a hospital-based 32-station ESRD facility in Southwest Wisconsin, the subsequent facility-wide testing, and the use of genetic sequence analysis to evaluate links between cases. METHODS: Four patient cases and one staff case were identified in symptomatic individuals by RT-PCR. Facility-wide screening was conducted using rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests. SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were obtained from residual diagnostic specimens. RESULTS: Facility-wide screening of 47 staff and 107 patients identified no additional cases. Residual specimens from 4 of 5 cases were available for genetic sequencing. Clear genetic differences proved that these contemporaneous cases were not linked. CONCLUSIONS: With high community prevalence, epidemiological data alone is insufficient to deem a case cluster an outbreak. Cluster evaluation with genomic data, when available with a short turn-around time, can play an important role in infection prevention and control response programs.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis successfully treated with miltefosine.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with notable worldwide burden and increasing prevalence in the United States due to globalization. We describe 2 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in New England, United States, both caused by the New World subgenus Viannia, in adults returning from Central America. Both patients underutilized preventive measures against bites from phlebotomine sand flies while abroad. They were successfully treated with oral miltefosine, which was well tolerated. Avoidance of vector transmission is the most important preventive measure. Prompt identification and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by species with potential for mucocutaneous spread are key to limiting morbidity and mortality. This responsibility should be shared among medical specialties, including dermatologists. Partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is critical for timely diagnosis and thus treatment. Miltefosine should be considered a first-line agent for cutaneous leishmaniasis given its efficacy, tolerability, availability, and ease of administration. Ondansetron can be prescribed concurrently.

The elusive nature of mucormycosis in an immunocompetent host and the role of a dermatology consult.

Mucormycosis infection in the immunocompetent host typically occurs in the setting of trauma and presents a diagnostic challenge. The earliest signs of infection are often cutaneous, but can easily be misinterpreted, which can be a fatal mistake. Dermatology has tools to help recognize these infections and initiate earlier therapy.

Sun protection for infants: parent behaviors and beliefs in Miami, Florida.

Children who are not adequately protected from the sun have an increased risk for developing skin cancers later in life. The primary objective of this study was to determine the sun protection behaviors that black and Hispanic parents in Miami, Florida, employ in infants younger than 6 months. Secondary objectives included determining if this patient population is at risk for infant sunburns and tanning, beliefs among parents regarding sunscreen's efficacy in the prevention of skin cancers, and limitations of sunscreen use. An institutional review board-approved survey was administered to parents presenting to the University of Miami general pediatrics clinic. The main outcome measure was the self-reported consistency with which parents employed each of 6 sun protection strategies in infants. The results of this study highlight some potential shortcomings in current practices in sun protection for black and Hispanic infants.

Clinical pearl: the squeeze maneuver.

Plantar warts can be distinguished from calluses using the squeeze maneuver, a quick and easy method to diagnose plantar warts. This technique negates the need for an expensive diagnostic tool.

Acute and Chronic Cutaneous Reactions to Ionizing Radiation Therapy.

Ionizing radiation is an important treatment modality for a variety of malignant conditions. However, development of radiation-induced skin changes is a significant adverse effect of radiation therapy (RT). Cutaneous repercussions of RT vary considerably in severity, course, and prognosis. When they do occur, cutaneous changes to RT are commonly graded as acute, consequential-late, or chronic. Acute reactions can have severe sequelae that impact quality of life as well as cancer treatment. Thus, dermatologists should be informed about these adverse reactions, know how to assess their severity and be able to determine course of management. The majority of measures currently available to prevent these acute reactions are proper skin hygiene and topical steroids, which limit the severity and decrease symptoms. Once acute cutaneous reactions develop, they are treated according to their severity. Treatments are similar to those used in prevention, but incorporate wound care management that maintains a moist environment to hasten recovery. Chronic changes are a unique subset of adverse reactions to RT that may develop months to years following treatment. Chronic radiation dermatitis is often permanent, progressive, and potentially irreversible with substantial impact on quality of life. Here, we also review the etiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, prevention, and management of late-stage cutaneous reactions to radiotherapy, including chronic radiation dermatitis and radiation-induced fibrosis.

Treatment of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a chronic inflammatory condition that leads to fibrotic plaques, papules and alopecia on the occiput and/or nape of the neck. Traditional medical management focuses on prevention, utilization of oral and topical antibiotics, and intralesional steroids in order to decrease inflammation and secondary infections. Unfortunately, therapy may require months of treatment to achieve incomplete results and recurrences are common. Surgical approach to treatment of lesions is invasive, may require general anesthesia and requires more time to recover. Light and laser therapies offer an alternative treatment for AKN. The present study systematically reviews the currently available literature on the treatment of AKN. While all modalities are discussed, light and laser therapy is emphasized due to its relatively unknown role in clinical management of AKN. The most studied modalities in the literature were the 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, 810-nm diode laser, and CO2 laser, which allow for 82-95% improvement in 1-5 sessions. Moreover, side effects were minimal with transient erythema and mild burning being the most common. Overall, further larger-scale randomized head to head control trials are needed to determine optimal treatments.

A Review of the Efficacy of Thalidomide and Lenalidomide in the Treatment of Refractory Prurigo Nodularis.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic dermatoses characterized by intensely pruritic, excoriated, or lichenified nodules. Standard therapy includes corticosteroids, antihistamines, and phototherapy; however, treatment results are often inadequate or transient. Thalidomide and its analogue lenalidomide are immunomodulatory drugs that have successfully been used to treat refractory cases of PN. A systematic review was performed evaluating the use of thalidomide and lenalidomide for PN. Eighteen articles were included in this study in which a total of 106 patients were evaluated, of whom 76 (71.7%) had moderate to significant improvement of PN with the use of thalidomide, lenalidomide, or both. Patients given thalidomide were treated with doses of 50-300 mg daily for 1-142 months, with the majority being treated for less than 1 year. Patients treated with lenalidomide were given a daily dose of 5-10 mg from 3 to 24 months. The most common side effects observed were sedation, gastrointestinal symptoms, and transient peripheral neuropathy. While thalidomide and lenalidomide are drugs that have shown promising results in these studies, caution should be taken in prescribing these medications and patients should be informed about the potential side effects. As such, large-scale randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are needed to determine appropriate dosing, efficacy, and toxicity profiles.

Exogenous ochronosis: a comprehensive review of the diagnosis, epidemiology, causes, and treatments.

Exogenous ochronosis (EO) can be an unintended psychologically troubling condition for patients who are already being treated for longer-term hyperpigmentation disorders such as melasma. Early diagnosis is key in order that the offending agent can be stopped to prevent further disfiguring discoloration. EO can be diagnosed in the right clinical setting with the aid of dermatoscopy, which can assist in early diagnosis and may negate the need for a biopsy. Laser modalities using Q-switched lasers of longer wavelengths and combination laser dermabrasion treatments have shown the most significant results with minimal adverse events. However, further large-scale studies are needed to determine optimal treatment modalities. Although considered uncommon, the incidence of EO will likely continue to increase with the growth of immigrant populations and the use of skin-lightening agents above the FDA's recommended over-the-counter concentrations, without the guidance of a dermatologist.