Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma: Comparison of high-frequency ultrasound and pathology.

BACKGROUND: Skin neoplasms, particularly basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are prevalent forms of skin malignancies. To enhance accurate diagnosis, non-invasive techniques including high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) are crucial. HFUS offers deeper penetration compared to reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), and optical coherence tomography (OCT), making it valuable for examining skin structures. The aim of this study was to investigate and diagnose localized manifestation of BCC and SCC with HFUS and compare it with pathology results in patients referred to Razi Hospital, Tehran, Iran. METHOD AND MATERIALS: This study included patients diagnosed with BCC and SCC, with clinical and pathological confirmation, attending the oncology clinic of Razi Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2022 to 2023. Exclusion criteria comprised metastatic and recurrent cases, patients who underwent treatment or surgery, and tumors located in anatomically challenging areas. HFUS with a 20 MHz probe and Doppler ultrasound were employed to examine the skin. Tumors were subsequently excised, fixed in formalin, and sent for pathological assessment. Ultrasound findings were compared with pathology results. RESULTS: The study assessed 40 patients, with half diagnosed with SCC and the other half with BCC. The majority of SCC patients were male (80%), while BCC patients were relatively evenly divided between males (65%) and females (35%). The mean age was 59.15 ± 11.9 years for SCC and 63.4 ± 8.9 years for BCC. Cheeks (20%) and lips (35%) were the most common sampling sites for BCC and SCC, respectively. The correlation coefficients for tumor size and depth between ultrasound and pathology were 0.981 and 0.912, respectively, indicating a high level of agreement between the two methods. CONCLUSION: In BCC patients, there was complete agreement between sonographic loco-regional extension and pathology findings. However, some discordance (30%) was observed in SCC cases. The study demonstrated a strong correlation between ultrasound and pathology in accurately detecting the depth and extent of the tumor. However, due to the inclusion of only patients with positive pathology, it is not appropriate to evaluate the diagnostic test values and compare them with pathology results. Therefore, it is highly recommended to carry out additional studies with larger sample sizes to further validate these findings.

Tracing human papillomavirus in skin and mucosal squamous cell carcinoma: a histopathological retrospective survey.

Worldwide, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) incidence is rising. The literature debates the human papillomavirus (HPV)'s role in cutaneous SCC development. We examined HPV histopathology in SCC samples in this study. Retrospective study at tertiary referral skin center in 2020. Histopathological features of HPV, including koilocytosis, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, hypergranulosis, parakeratosis, solar elastosis, papillomatosis, and tumor grade, were examined in SCC specimens. Two dermatopathologists independently reevaluated all samples. We examined 331 SCC cases (male:female ratio = 3.9:1). The mean age was 68.1, with 15.1 standard deviation. Lesions were most common on the face (40.5%), scalp (22.7%), and extremities (20.8%). Koilocytes were found in 50 (15.1%) lesions. Nail (38.1%, p=0.007), oral cavity (36.8%, p=0.014), and genitalia (60.0%, p=0.026) lesions had higher koilocytosis rates. SCCs were found in 6.6% of specimens, but in situ tumors had the highest koilocytosis (64.7%), significantly higher than other grades (p<0.001). SCC pathology often shows HPV and specific koilocyte histopathology. Well-differentiated SCC has a stronger association with nail, oral, and genital lesions.

Disseminated protothecosis: Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Human protothecosis is an uncommon infection caused by Prototheca spp that rarely infects humans. AIM: Description of a rare disease and a review of its articles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reported a 24-year-old man who presented with red-brown papules and plaques on the trunk's lateral side. We reviewed the literature about disseminated protothecosis and reported our experience with a patient with protothecosis between 2021 and 2023. RESULTS: Overall, 54 cases of disseminated protothecosis were evaluated, 39 were due to P. wickerhamii, 12 were due to P. zopfii (22.2%), and three were due to Prototheca spp. We found that males were more affected (37 cases, 68.5%) than females (16 cases, 29.6%). The mean age of patients was 39.53 ± 22.48 years. However, disseminated protothecosis can affect people of any age (1-80 years). In contrast to P. wickerhamii, which causes blood, skin, brain, and gastrointestinal tract infections, P. zopfii was mainly found in the blood (7/22) and did not have a significant difference in the mortality rate (P = 0.11). DISCUSSION: Disseminated protothecosis is a rare disease in immunocompromised patients but is generally rarer in immunocompetent hosts. Several underlying disorders include immunocompromised patients, prolonged application of steroids, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, organ transplantation, AIDS, and surgeries. Amphotericin B has been the most effective agent for protothecosis and is reserved for visceral and disseminated infections. Regarding localized cutaneous types, excision or surgical debridement is used. CONCLUSION: Mulberry's appearance and appropriate cultural environments are helpful in diagnosing it.

A case of IgA pemphigus, with a poor response to dapsone, successfully treated with adalimumab.

Key Clinical Message: IgA pemphigus is usually treated by Dapsone. Recalcitrant cases may be treated by Colchicine, Sulfapyridine, or Acitretin. Some patients with recurrent severe disease may not respond to the aforementioned medications. Our study highlights the role of TNFa inhibitor as an alternative modality in the treatment of recalcitrant IgA pemphigus. Abstract: IgA pemphigus is a rare autoimmune blistering disease characterized by a pruritic, annular, vesiculopustular eruption. In IgA pemphigus, there are IgA autoantibodies targeting the keratinocyte cell surface adhesion molecules, causing cell-to-cell dehiscence and a flaccid vesiculopustular eruption, mainly in the axilla and groin. Dapsone, despite being the drug of choice for treating IgA pemphigus, is not effective in clearing lesions in a minority of patients and such rare cases of recalcitrant IgA pemphigus need alternative modalities of treatment. Here, we report the successful treatment of a 50-year-old male patient with an adalimumab injection who had a poor response to dapsone.

A keratotic nodule on a cobblestone plaque: A rare case presentation.

The manuscript describes a case of a 68-year-old woman with a pruritic nodule and yellow cobblestone plaque on her abdomen. Biopsy results showed trans epidermal illumination of basophilic elastic fibres in the reticular dermis with calcium deposits. The diagnosis was perforating calcific elastosis, an acquired rare condition mostly seen in obese, multiparous, middle-aged women.

Detection of herpes simplex viruses in the oral lesions of patients with pemphigus vulgaris: Is it diagnostic or predictive of disease severity?

Background: Some studies emphasise the relationship between the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and pemphigus. Although the possible role of HSV in the pathogenesis of pemphigus and the severity of the disease is obscure, we aimed to evaluate the presence of herpes simplex viruses (HSV 1/2) in the oral lesions of patients with pemphigus vulgaris and also assess its association with disease severity and types of lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on collected data in the form of collecting paraffin blocks, slides, and relevant pathology reports and referring to patients' medical records. A questionnaire containing details on the degree of skin, scalp, and mucosal involvement (Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI)) was fulfiled. The immunoassay result was also collected to check the anti-desmoglein 3 and 1 antibodies (using ELISA technique). Results: In this study, 52 patients of pemphigus vulgaris with oral lesions (case) and 52 patients with oral lesions not related to the disease (control) were evaluated. HSV1 was detected in 13.5% of oral pemphigus lesions and 1.9% of the control group (p = 0.0598). There were no positive cases of HSV2 in either group. There was no significant association between the positivity of HSV1 and the site of lesions (p = 1.00) or disease severity (p = 0.28). However, we found a strong correlation between the PDAI disease severity score with the titre of the AntiDsg3 antibody (r = 0.487, p = 0.001) and AntiDsg1 antibody (r = 0.309, p = 0.026). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant prevalence of HSV1 in oral pemphigus lesions, and acyclovir therapy may play a significant role in managing these patients. However, HSV's role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris cannot be clearly determined.

Clinicopathological Survey of 204 Rosacea Patients Regarding Rosacea Subgroups and Severity.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have evaluated the histopathological characteristics of clinical rosacea subtypes in detail. OBJECTIVES: To assess rosacea histopathological features in correspondence to clinical subgroups. METHODS: The histopathological findings of 204 rosacea patients were analyzed retrospectively and were compared among clinical subtypes. RESULTS: Thirt-Two Percent of patients were male and 68% were female. Seventy-three patients had erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) and 110 had papulopustular rosacea (PPR), 12 were ETR + PPR, 4 ocular, 2 phymatous, and 3 had Morbihan's edema. Perivascular and perifollicular lymphohistiocytic infiltration, perifollicular exocytosis, follicular spongiosis, and ectatic vessels were almost found in all subtypes. Solar elastosis was higher in ETR. Spongiosis, exocytosis of inflammatory cells into epidermis, acanthosis, and granulomatous reaction were higher in PPR. Inflammatory cells exocytosis was more in PPR and phymatous. Demodex folliculorum was identified in 27% of ETR, 33.6% of PPR, 50% of phymatous, one ocular patient, and none of Morbihan edema. Demodex brevis were found in 5% of ETR, 3% of PPR, and 50% of phymatous. Demodex brevis not folliculorum was more in phymatous. Spongiosis was the most common finding in ocular rosacea. CONCLUSIONS: Spongiosis, exocytosis of inflammatory cells, and granulomatous reactions were more in PPR. Solar elastosis was more in ETR. Histopathological findings were compatible with clinical subgroups.

Clinicopathological Study of 307 Patients with Lichen Planus Actinicus and Pigmentosus Referred to Razi Skin Hospital From 2016 to 2021.

INTRODUCTION: The two less-known subtypes of lichen planus (LP) are lichen planus actinicus (LPA) and lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP), with the highest prevalence in the Middle East. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological profile of these patients. METHODS: Three hundred and seven cases including 184 LPA and 123 LPP patients were recruited from the registered pathology reports of Razi Skin Hospital of Tehran from April 2016 to March 2021. The clinical features and pathological reports were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Among 307 patients, 117 (63.9%) in the LPA group and 88 (71.5%) in the LPP group were women. Duration of disease ranged from 1 month to 20 years and 1 month to 12 years in the LPA and LPP groups, respectively. Face (159 patients), limbs (68), and neck (23) were the most frequent sites of involvement in LPA patients, whereas face (60 patients), limbs (47), and trunk (42) were more commonly involved in the LPP patients. Pruritus and oral mucosal lesions were found with similar frequency in both groups. Pathological evaluation showed vacuolar degeneration of basal layer (100%), lymphocytes infiltration (97.3%), and melanin incontinence (58.2%) as the most frequent findings in LPA and vacuolar degeneration of basal layer (100%), lymphocytes infiltration (100%), and melanin incontinence (52/8%) as the most frequent findings in LPP cases. CONCLUSIONS: LPA and LPP were both more prevalent among women. Face was the most common site of involvement in both LPA and LPP. Vacuolar degeneration, lymphocyte infiltration, melanin incontinence, and hyperkeratosis were more common histological findings in this study.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Scleromyxedema: A 10-Year Retrospective Survey.

Scleromyxedema is a rare but important mucinosis disorder of the skin that is presented with dermatological manifestations such as waxy papules, diffuse induration, and nondermatologic involvements like neurological and renal disorders. We report a case series of the data regarding the characteristics and treatment of 14 patients diagnosed with scleromyxedema and their follow-up. Patients entered the study based on scleromyxedema diagnosis criteria. Comorbidities were also recorded to evaluate their effect on the treatment process. Clinicopathological and laboratory findings and responses to their treatment were evaluated separately. There was a significant improvement after administering intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Despite the lack of a definite treatment for this condition, the present study shows that the application of IVIG can improve both cutaneous and systemic symptoms. Younger patients, in particular, responded significantly to the use of IVIG. More studies are required to investigate the potential efficacy of IVIG in the treatment of scleromyxedema.

Punctate Pattern and Pemphigus: Is There Any Evidence of Punctate Pattern Among Iranian Patients?

AIM: To examine the prevalence of this novel pattern among Iranian patients with pemphigus and peruse the relationship between the presence of a punctate pattern with clinical severity of disease and histopathological findings. METHODS: One hundred recently diagnosed patients with pemphigus were enrolled. DIF evaluation and routine light microscopy were performed on their biopsy specimens. Disease severity was determined using the Pemphigus Disease Area Index. Serum samples were collected to measure autoantibody titers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: All the samples evaluated by DIF showed a continuous linear pattern of intercellular IgG deposition, whereas none of them had a punctate pattern. Despite a significant correlation between the Pemphigus Disease Area Index score and autoantibody values, no association between histopathological findings and disease severity has been found. CONCLUSION: We could not detect any punctate pattern among Iranian patients with pemphigus. The importance of this pattern in the diagnosis of pemphigus might be different among patients with different ethnic and genetic factors.

A rare case of plexiform schwannoma on the foot.

Plexiform schwannoma is an uncommon soft tissue tumor that could even rarely presented on the foot and toes.

Clinical and histopathological evaluation of cutaneous angiofibromas.

BACKGROUND: Angiofibromas are common benign skin lesions that are diagnosed clinically and histopathologically. Fibrous papule (FP) is one of the clinical types of angiofibromas located primarily on the nose. METHODS: The cases with the confirmed diagnosis of angiofibroma were enrolled. Demographic features of the patients and clinical characteristics of the lesions were extracted. Moreover, histopathological features of the available slides were microscopically reviewed. RESULTS: From 83 cases of cutaneous angiofibromas, 57 (69%) had lesions consistent with FP. The mean age at diagnosis was 37.7 ± 16.3 years and the most common site of involvement was the nose (53% of cases). Regarding the histopathological evaluation of 71 slides, most cases represented vascular changes (97%) and dermal fibroplasia (87%). Melanin incontinence (41%), acanthosis (31%), and lichenoid features (25%) were other common histopathological findings. Moreover, a sparse inflammatory cell infiltrate was present in 68% of cases. The most prevalent inflammatory cells were lymphocytes (61%) and histiocytes (34%). CONCLUSION: This study presented the histopathological findings of a series of cutaneous angiofibromas. Dermatopathologists should be aware of these features, especially those that are less common, to better diagnose and differentiate them from malignant neoplasms.

Cutaneous Lymphadenoma: A Case of Recurrence after Shave Excision.

Cutaneous lymphadenoma (CL) is a rare skin tumor supposedly derived from the pilosebaceous unit. Since its description in 1987, fewer than 60 cases have been documented. Herein we report a case of CL presenting as a small nodule on the forehead of a young female. The lesion recurred two years after shave excision of a similar lesion. The histopathological examination revealed interconnected islands, sheets, and trabeculae consisting of two distinct types of cells within a sclerotic stroma, a peripheral rim of palisading basophilic cells, and central epithelial cells with eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm. A dense infiltration with prominent lymphocytes and few plasma cells dominated the stroma and permeated the epithelial nests. This case represents the recurrence of this type of skin tumor after shave excision and thus highlights the importance of complete margin-free excision of such lesions.

A comparative study of long interspersed element-1 protein immunoreactivity in cutaneous malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and commonly classified into malignant melanoma (MM) and Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), which mainly include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The extent to which Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1, L1) ORF1p is expressed in cutaneous malignancies remains to be evaluated. This study aimed to assess LINE-1 ORF1p immunoreactivity in various skin cancer subtypes. METHOD: The expression level of LINE-1 ORF1p was evaluated in 95 skin cancer specimens comprising 36 (37.9%) BCC, 28 (29.5%) SCC, and 31 (32.6%) melanoma using the tissue microarray (TMA) technique. Then the association between expression of LINE-1 encoded protein and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. RESULTS: We showed that LINE-1 ORF1p expression level was substantially higher in BCC and SCC patients compared with melanoma samples (p < 0.001). BCC cases had a higher LINE-1 histochemical score (H-score) compared with SCC cases (p = 0.004). In SCC samples, a lower level of LINE-1 ORF1p expression was associated with age younger than the mean (p = 0.041). At the same time, no significant correlation was found between LINE-1 ORF1p expression and other clinicopathological parameters (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to our observation, LINE-1 ORF1p immunoreactivity in various skin tumor subtypes extends previous studies of LINE-1 expression in different cancers. LINE-1ORF1p overexpression in NMSCs compared with MM can be considered with caution as a tumor-specific antigen for NMSCs.

Cutaneous cysts: a clinicopathologic analysis of 2,438 cases.

BACKGROUND: Benign cutaneous lesions, so-called cysts, are frequently seen in clinics and might evoke cosmetic and psychosocial concerns. AIM: This study aimed to demonstrate the clinicopathologic findings of these lesions and also the importance of histological evaluation for prevention of misdiagnosing a benign-appearing malignant lesion. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted of 2,438 cases who had a diagnosis of cyst confirmed with pathology. The data of patients over the 6-year period between 2011 and 2017, including gender, age, location, prevalence, complications, and microscopic evaluation, were gathered. RESULTS: From a total of 2,438 records with a clinical diagnosis of mucocutaneous cyst, 2077 had the pathologic diagnosis of cysts. They consisted of 910 women (43.8%) and 1167 men (56.1%) with a mean age of 42. The most common mucocutaneous cysts were epidermal cyst 994 (47.8%) followed by trichilemmal cyst 495 (23.8%). In 479 (19.6%) records, the clinical diagnosis was not congruent with histopathological diagnosis including 45 malignant cases. Basal cell carcinoma in 22 (48.9%) was the most common one. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on clinical characteristics of cutaneous cysts and the need for a decent diagnostic investigation, like histopathology, for achieving a reliable diagnosis regarding the benign mimicking malignant lesions, especially high risk ones.

Granuloma annulare after Botulonium toxin A injection: A rare association.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin is generally considered safe and has been used in constantly expanded cosmetic and therapeutic indications. However, long-term side effects such as granulomatous reactions have been associated with this drug. AIMS: We aim to evaluate a rare reaction to Botulonium toxin A injection. PATIENTS/METHODS: A 44-year-old woman, developed annular plaques eleven months after botulinum toxin A injection for the correction treatment of wrinklesglabellar rhytides. RESULTS: Histopathological examination revealed granuloma annulare formation. Clinical and biological investigations were negative, ruling out the hypothesis of systemic sarcoidosis. Triamcinolone acetonide injection was followed by a regression of the plaques. CONCLUSION: There are previous reports in the literature of sarcoidal and foreign body granuloma at the sites of injection of botulinum toxin A injection. To our knowledge this is the first report of granuloma annulare occurrence after botulinum toxin A injection.