Cutaneous Coccidioidomycosis and Basal Cell Carcinoma: Case Report on a Diagnostic Dilemma.

In the world of medical diagnoses, a particularly intriguing scenario unfolds, wherein the cutaneous manifestation of a systemic fungal infection disguises itself as a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), a skin cancer. Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection caused by inhaling spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis. It is primarily a pneumonic illness which, in a few cases, has the potential to cause severe systemic disease. In this article, we report a case of a 60-year-old female with a known history of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of left breast status post lumpectomy and adjunct chemotherapy presented with complaints of cough, fever, and easy fatigability that seemed to be attributable to her immunocompromised state. She also had a pseudo-vesicular plaque on her left upper arm for two years. As we delve into the case, it becomes clear that Coccidioidomycosis and other opportunistic infections are commonplace among immunocompromised patients. Prior awareness of this condition and a cautious yet open-minded approach prevented gross misdiagnosis in our case. Physicians should be vigilant in diagnosing Coccidioidomycosis, especially in immunocompromised patients presenting with mild constitutional symptoms in endemic regions. Early detection and management are crucial to prevent severe complications and increase patient survival rates.

Atypical Pediatric Presentation of Pilomatricoma.

Pilomatricomas are uncommon, benign tumors of the hair follicle, which are often misdiagnosed upon initial inspection. Here we describe the case of a 4-year-old boy who presented with a persistent draining tumor on the left side of his neck for approximately two years. The tumor was originally misdiagnosed as scrofuloderma but, eventually, our patient's pilomatricoma was identified with biopsy and successfully treated with elliptical excision. We discuss the importance of considering pilomatricoma in the differential diagnosis.

Growth of a Nipple Adenoma After Estrogen Replacement Therapy.

A nipple adenoma is an epithelial tumor of the lactiferous ducts, typically affecting women aged 50-60 years old. This case report discusses a 52-year-old woman who developed a papillary adenoma of the right nipple after initiating oral estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for perimenopausal symptoms. A 4 mm punch biopsy and subsequent immunohistochemistry stain revealed the proliferation of ductal structures consistent with a papillary adenoma and tumor cells expressing estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). Despite their benign nature, nipple adenomas may exhibit alterations in immunophenotype, including ER and PR expression, which could lead to potential tumor growth in women undergoing these treatments. This case describes the first reported growth of a nipple adenoma in the context of estrogen replacement therapy, highlighting a potential risk of hormone therapy in promoting hyperproliferation of benign tumors such as nipple adenomas. When utilizing ERT, it is important to weigh the potential advantages and risks, as its application in the management of vasomotor symptoms during menopause may increase the risk of both breast cancer and benign proliferative breast diseases. These considerations underscore the need for individualized therapy when approaching perimenopausal and postmenopausal care.

Delayed diagnosis of adult-onset mastocytosis.

Urticaria pigmentosa is most frequently observed in children. The associated symptomatology in mastocytosis is vague and not always diagnostic, and Darier's sign is often negative, making the diagnosis challenging. We describe a case of a 61-year-old man with extensive brown papules and macules in different locations of the body that slowly progressed in the last 10 years with a previous anaphylactic reaction after an ant bite. This suggests that urticaria pigmentosa in an adult should be furthered assessed for the possibility of systemic involvement for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Ciliary Gland Adenocarcinoma of the Eyelid Arising in Hidrocystoma: Case Report and Review of Previously Reported Cases.

ABSTRACT: Moll gland is a modified tubular-shaped apocrine sweat gland, which is located on the margin of the eyelid. Moll glands are also known as ciliary glands. The function of these glands was not well known for a long time. However, based on the different studies, it was proved that Moll glands are active from birth and have local immunologic function producing immunoglobulin A. We present a case of Moll adenocarcinoma, a type of apocrine carcinoma, arising from the right upper eyelid of a 57-year-old man. Although Moll gland cysts are frequently seen, this type of adnexal malignancy is extremely uncommon. These tumors can have variable presentation and behavior from less invasive forms to highly malignant metastatic recurrent lesions.

Atypical Presentation of Erythema Elevatum Diutinum in a Patient With Hashimoto's Disease.

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a cutaneous vasculitis that is characterized by histopathologic findings of neutrophilic infiltration, vessel fibrosis, and leukocytoclasia. It most often presents as papules, plaques, and nodules on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. Herein, we present a case of a 44-year-old woman with Hashimoto's disease with an atypical presentation of EED on the palmar surface of the thumb, in addition to the classic appearance on the elbow. Diseases associated with EED, including autoimmune conditions, are discussed.

Malignant Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumor: A Subtle Presentation in an African American Woman and Review of Immunohistochemical Markers for This Rare Condition.

A malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumor (MPTT) is thought to represent the malignant counterpart of a benign proliferating trichilemmal cyst, a keratin-filled lesion that derives from the outer hair root sheath. The clinical appearance of MPTTs does not always correlate with their histopathologic behavior, emphasizing the need for biopsy and histopathological analysis. Here, we present a 46-year-old African American woman who was evaluated for an ostensibly benign cyst on her scalp that was diagnosed as an MPTT following histopathological examination. She was treated with simple surgical resection that was flush with the cyst margins, followed by Mohs surgery to ensure complete resection. As immunohistochemistry (IHC) has often been used to characterize MPTTs, we also review the various IHC markers reported in the literature.

Incidental Clear Cell Syringoma of the Scalp in a Patient With Lichen Planopilaris.

Syringomas are benign neoplasms of eccrine ducts; glycogen accumulation in the tumor cell cytoplasm results in a clear cell variant of syringoma. Syringoma and syringomatous proliferations (secondary to alteration of the eccrine sweat ducts) have been observed, albeit uncommonly, as an incidental finding in areas of alopecia on the scalp. A 71-year-old woman with scalp hair loss caused by lichen planopilaris had subclinical clear cell syringoma discovered as an incidental observation on evaluation of the biopsy specimen from an area of hair loss. Including our patient, scalp alopecia-associated syringoma or syringomatous proliferation has been described in a 47-year-old man and 16 women. The women ranged in age from 33 years to 83 years (median, 57 years). The duration of alopecia ranged from six months to 22 years; almost half of the patients (three of seven) had hair loss for 20 or more years. The frontal scalp was the most common location of alopecia; the parietal scalp and the entire scalp with diffuse hair loss were also frequent sites. Prior to biopsy, female pattern alopecia was the most common clinical diagnosis; lichen planopilaris and scarring alopecia were also frequent diagnoses. After the biopsy, pseudopelade was the most common diagnosis; lichen planopilaris and female pattern alopecia were also frequently observed. The pathogenesis of incidental syringomas and syringomatous proliferation in areas of scalp hair loss is postulated to be secondary to subclinical alopecia-related reactive changes.

Exacerbation of Galli-Galli Disease Following Dialysis Treatment: A Case Report and Review of Aggravating Factors.

Galli-Galli disease (GGD) is a rare genodermatosis that is an acantholytic variant of Dowling-Degos disease that presents as lentigo-like macules/papules with progressive reticulated hyperpigmentation. Heat, sweat, ultraviolet light exposure, and topical retinoids have been reported to exacerbate the lesions associated with GGD. Here, we present a 77-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease and GGD who reported a worsening of lesions during the summer months and following hemodialysis treatment. Despite the severity of her lesions following dialysis, she refused treatment with isotretinoin out of concern for its side effect profile. In this case report, we discuss some available treatment options for GGD and review the exacerbating factors for GGD currently reported in the literature.

Clinical Use of a Diagnostic Gene Expression Signature for Melanocytic Neoplasms.

A gene expression signature has been validated as an adjunct to traditional methods of differentiating malignant and benign melanocytic neoplasms, and its use in clinical practice warrants further study. This study followed patients whose melanocytic neoplasms were managed according to a benign result from the gene expression signature (N=25). Eligible patients whose tested lesions were classified as benign by the gene expression signature and were subsequently treated as benign by their dermatology providers were observed for a mean follow-up period of 38.5 months. Results suggest that many patients with melanocytic neoplasms classified as benign by the gene expression signature may safely forego additional surgical excision.

Apremilast in the Management of Disseminated Granuloma Annulare.

Granuloma annulare (GA) is a common inflammatory skin condition that manifests as annular skin colored to erythematous papules and plaques. Disseminated GA is a subtype of GA that presents with diffuse cutaneous involvement. While topical and intralesional corticosteroids and phototherapy have been used as therapies for GA, there is no consensus on the best course of treatment for GA. Apremilast is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor that has been Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers associated with Behcet's disease; apremilast has also shown promise off-label for other inflammatory skin conditions. Here, we present the case of a woman in whom apremilast use led to an almost complete resolution of her disseminated GA. Our patient tolerated apremilast well and reported no side effects. We also review the literature on the use of apremilast in other patients with GA.

Linear lichen planus pigmentosus of the face with histological findings of lichen planopilaris - an uncommon variant of lichen planus.

Lichen planus pigmentosus and lichen planopilaris are two clinically and histologically distinct forms of lichen planus. Lichen planus pigmentosus presents with sudden onset hyperpigmented macules and patches, predominantly in darker skin phototypes. On the other hand, lichen planopilaris is a scarring follicular variant of lichen planus that presents with progressive, permanent patches of alopecia. It is not uncommon for different variants of lichen planus to clinically coexist with each other. However, to our knowledge, there has been no previous reporting of linear lichen planus pigmentosus of the face with histological features of lichen planopilaris. We herein present a hybrid case of these two entities.

Indeterminate Cell Histiocytosis Mimicking Rosacea.

Indeterminate cell histiocytosis (ICH) is a rare proliferative disorder of histiocytes, which display morphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of both Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis (NLCH). We describe an unusual clinical presentation of ICH mimicking rosacea and provide a relevant review of the literature.

Hot Tub-Associated Pseudomonas Folliculitis: A Case Report and Review of Host Risk Factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis is an infection of the skin commonly associated with swimming pool and hot tub use. It often presents as outbreaks affecting multiple individuals using the same contaminated public water facility. We present a case report of a 50-year-old woman who developed pseudomonal folliculitis after using a hot tub with multiple family members. No other family member developed folliculitis. Factors contributing to susceptibility to P. aeruginosa infection are reviewed.

Linezolid as a treatment option for cutaneous non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.

Cutaneous non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections have rapidly increased in incidence in recent years. Currently there is no standard treatment and the variable and nonspecific ways in which cutaneous NTM infection presents makes it a therapeutic and diagnostic challenge. We describe a 67-year-old immunocompetent woman with cutaneous NTM infection after she recently underwent a root canal procedure. Although the species was not identified and she was unable to tolerate multiple antibiotics, she ultimately responded well to three months of treatment with linezolid. Given that cutaneous NTM infection can present in immunocompetent patients and that the incidence is rising, it is important for clinicians to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion, especially in patients with a recent history of surgery, trauma, or cosmetic procedures. Linezolid has coverage against non-tuberculous mycobacteria and is an effective therapeutic option for cutaneous NTM cases in which identification to the species level is not possible or when adverse effects limit therapeutic options.

Perforating Granuloma Annulare Mimicking Psoriasis.

Perforating granuloma annulare (PGA) is a rare inflammatory condition characterized by transepithelial elimination of necrobiotic collagen with granulomas in the dermis. It commonly presents as umbilicated papules or pustules on the extremities and dorsal hands. The distribution of PGA can be described as generalized or localized, with only 9% of patients presenting with a single lesion. Herein, we report an unusual presentation of PGA as a single localized plaque on the forearm that resembled psoriasis.