[First cases of squamous cell carcinoma associated with cosmetic use of bleaching compounds]. / Premiers cas de carcinomes épidermoïdes sur terrain de dépigmentation artificielle.

INTRODUCTION: We report two cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in two black women (phenotype VI) using bleaching compounds for cosmetic purposes over a period of 15 years. CASE REPORTS: Two women (aged 45 and 47 years) with a long history of cosmetic use of bleaching compounds consulted at a dermatology unit for skin tumours. A diagnosis of SCC was confirmed by histological examination of tumour biopsies. One patient was HIV-positive. Surgical treatment was performed in both cases: simple postoperative complications were seen in one patient but the other died at home following recurrence of carcinoma in the year following diagnosis. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, theses two cases represent the first description of SCC occurring after prolonged cosmetic use of bleaching compounds. Carcinoma occurred in both cases in skin exposed to sun. In our patients, the mechanism of carcinogenesis may have involved melanin destruction, solar exposure and corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression. A direct carcinogenic effect of hydroquinone or other unidentified compounds is another possibility; the carcinogenicity of hydroquinone is well established in rodents. While these observations do not provide formal proof of any implication of depigmentation products in SCC, they emphasize the need for monitoring of dark-skinned women using skin lighteners.

[Granuloma with lymphocytic hyperplasia following vaccination: 10 cases. Presence of aluminium in the biopsies]. / Granulome vaccinal avec hyperplasie lymphocytaire: 10 cas. Présence d'aluminium dans les biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Few cases of cutaneous lymphocytic hyperplasia secondary to vaccination have been published, although such lesions are not rare. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a series of 10 cases registered between 1993 and 2003. RESULTS: Mean age was 25. The clinical aspect was solitary or multiple subcutaneous nodules, located on the arm, developing after a delay of 1 to 18 months after vaccination. Histologic examination showed a lymphocytic infiltration of the subcutaneous fat, with diffuse and/or follicular pattern, without nuclear atypia, the morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of which revealed the benign nature. In all cases, there was fibrosis and granuloma composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and macrophages with basophilic cytoplasm. Morin stain showed intralesional aluminium in the 6 investigated cases. Evolution was always benign, with no relapse following exeresis. DISCUSSION: Cutaneous lymphocytic hyperplasia secondary to vaccination has to be suspected in a young patient with subcutaneous nodules appearing at a vaccination site. Evidence of aluminium in the lesions supports the diagnosis and the hypothesis that aluminium in the vaccine excipient might have a role in the onset of such lesions.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin: a report of 3 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative additional cases. Immunohistochemical study of the stroma reaction.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a relatively common malignancy in the nasopharynx, but it rarely occurs in other sites. We report 3 additional cases of cutaneous location. Histopathologically, the tumors consisted of multiple well-circumscribed dermal-hypodermal nodules composed of aggregates of undifferentiated malignant cells. These cells had moderate amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. There was no squamous or glandular differentiation. For each case, a heavy lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate was found. No dysplasia was noted in the epidermis. In one case, the tumoral component showed numerous Sternberg-like cells scattered within a lymphocytic background. This case might be mistaken with a Hodgkin's lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen. In the present report, studying the stroma reaction cell components, we have stressed the presence of numerous factor XIIIa-positive dendritic cells in 2 cases. Because of the role of these cells in the immune response of normal stroma, their presence herein might be in relation with the favorable prognosis of this type of primary skin carcinoma. No Epstein-Barr viral genomic sequences were detected by in situ hybridization. This negativity for Epstein-Barr virus may be a help in the differential diagnosis from metastatic undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.