Disseminated fusariosis with cutaneous involvement in hematologic malignancies: report of six cases with high mortality rate

Abstract: Fusariosis is due to inhalation or direct contact with conidia. Clinical presentation depends on host's immunity and can be localized, focally invasive or disseminated. Given the severity of this infection and the possibility for the dermatologist to make an early diagnosis, we report six cases of patients with hematologic malignancies, who developed febrile neutropenia an skin lesions suggestive of cutaneous fusariosis. All patients had skin cultures showing growth of Fusarium solani complex, and they received amphotericin B and voriconazole. As this infection can quickly lead to death, dermatologists play a crucial role in diagnosing this disease.

Disseminated fusariosis with cutaneous involvement in hematologic malignancies: report of six cases with high mortality rate.

Fusariosis is due to inhalation or direct contact with conidia. Clinical presentation depends on host's immunity and can be localized, focally invasive or disseminated. Given the severity of this infection and the possibility for the dermatologist to make an early diagnosis, we report six cases of patients with hematologic malignancies, who developed febrile neutropenia an skin lesions suggestive of cutaneous fusariosis. All patients had skin cultures showing growth of Fusarium solani complex, and they received amphotericin B and voriconazole. As this infection can quickly lead to death, dermatologists play a crucial role in diagnosing this disease.

Reconstrução da hélice da orelha sem triângulo de compensação / Ear's helix reconstruction without the compensation triangle

Os cânceres da pele na região da cabeça e do pescoço correspondem a 70-75% dos tumores cutâneos malignos, e, destes, 80% são do tipo carcinoma basocelular. O pavilhão auricular é a localização dos tumores cutâneos malignos em percentual que varia de três a 6% dos casos. Relatamos técnica alternativa para reconstrução da hélice após exérese de tumores sem a utilização do triângulo de compensação clássico, de modo a proporcionar cicatriz na dobra da hélice, com melhor resultado estético, sem retrações inestéticas ou cicatrizes transversais à hélice.

Skin cancers in the head and neck region account for 70-75% of malignant cutaneous tumors, of which 80% are basal cell carcinomas. Between 3-6% of malignant cutaneous tumors occur in the auricular pavilion. The authors of the present paper report an alternative technique for reconstructing the ear helix after excision of tumors, without the use of the classic compensation triangle. This method allows that the scar be located in the helical sulcus, resulting in a better aesthetic result, without unaesthetic retractions or scars located transversely to the helix.

Disseminated cryptococcosis with skin lesions: report of a case series.

Cryptococcosis is a common fungal infection in immunocompromised patients, caused by genus Cryptococcus, presenting with meningitis, pneumonia, and skin lesions. Cutaneous presentation can be varied, but specifically in solid organ transplant recipients (iatrogenically immunocompromised), cryptococcosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of cellulitis-like lesions, since the delay in diagnosis leads to worse prognosis and fatal outcome. We report four cases of cryptococcosis with cutaneous manifestation not only for its rarity, but also to emphasize the important role of the dermatologist in the diagnosis of this disease.

Disseminated cryptococcosis with skin lesions: report of a case series

Abstract Cryptococcosis is a common fungal infection in immunocompromised patients, caused by genus Cryptococcus, presenting with meningitis, pneumonia, and skin lesions. Cutaneous presentation can be varied, but specifically in solid organ transplant recipients (iatrogenically immunocompromised), cryptococcosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of cellulitis-like lesions, since the delay in diagnosis leads to worse prognosis and fatal outcome. We report four cases of cryptococcosis with cutaneous manifestation not only for its rarity, but also to emphasize the important role of the dermatologist in the diagnosis of this disease.

Epidemiology and clinical evolution of non-melanoma skin cancer in renal transplant recipients: a single-center experience in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is very common among renal transplant recipients (RTRs) as a result of the immunosuppressed status of these patients and other factors. Few studies have examined the clinical characteristics and evolution of NMSC in RTRs in tropical countries. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize the epidemiology and clinical evolution of NMSC in RTRs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including 68 RTRs with NMSC diagnosed from July 2004 to December 2009 with a minimum follow-up of three years. We analyzed demographic and transplant- and NMSC-related data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients at the first diagnosis of NMSC was 51 years (range: 29-71 years). Most first diagnoses occurred within nine years post-transplant. The majority of patients (n = 48) had Fitzpatrick skin phototype II, although NMSC was also observed in those with skin phototypes III and IV. Forty-six (67.6%) RTRs had received a kidney from a living donor. Fifty-five (80.9%) RTRs had received cytotoxic immunosuppressives, 51 (75.0%) had received calcineurin inhibitors, and two (2.9%) had received mTOR inhibitors. Most of the RTRs developed about eight NMSC lesions, but up to 25 NMSC lesions were diagnosed in one patient. Most lesions (67.6%) were located on sun-exposed areas. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represented the predominant tumor type, accounting for 70.6% of all tumors, whereas basal cell carcinoma accounted for 29.4% of all tumors. Invasive SCC predominated over in situ SCC. Finally, 48.5% of patients had a previous history of viral warts. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term use of immunosuppressive therapy increases the risk for tumor occurrence. Multiple NMSC tumors can develop in patients in tropical countries, even in patients with a high skin phototype. Therefore, RTRs should understand the high risk for the development of malignant tumors and should be properly informed about the prevention and treatment of NMSC.

Atenção básica no SUS: publicações do campus São Paulo da Unifesp, 1994-2009 / Primary care in SUS: publications in São Paulo campus, Unifesp, 1994-2009

OBJETIVO: Descrever a produção científica de professores e profissionais do campus da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp) que toma a Atenção Básica em saúde e o SUS como objeto de estudo de 1994 a 2009. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo quali-quantitativo, baseado em informações obtidas em periódicos indexados nos bancos Pubmed, Medline, Lilacs e Scielo, no período de 1994-2009. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 98 trabalhos no período, verificando-se aumento progressivo do número de publicações a partir de 2003, principalmente de docentes e técnicos em educação superior vinculados aos departamentos de Medicina Preventiva, Enfermagem, Pediatria e Fonoaudiologia. Muitos deles foram realizados em parceria com outras universidades e serviços de saúde. A avaliação dos conteúdos dos trabalhos foi feita mediante categorização em quatro temas: política, planejamento e gestão; educação em saúde; morbidade; promoção da saúde. CONCLUSÃO: As publicações expressam que a relação dos pesquisadores da Unifesp com a rede do SUS vem se tornando construtiva nestes sete anos, contribuindo para a consolidação do SUS e o apoio à sua dinâmica, planejamento e gestão.

OBJECTIVE: Know and systematize scientific production of Unifesp, campus São Paulo, that presented contributions to the consolidation of SUS, in primary health care, from 1994-2009. METHODS: Qualitative-quantitative study, using bibliographic data arising from scientific journals indexed to Pubmed, Medline, Lilacs and Scielo. RESULTS: 98 works were collected, from which we realized an increase in the number of publications since 2003, mainly for teachers and technicians linked to the Departments of Preventive Medicine, Nursing, Speech Pathology and Pediatrics. Many of them were carried out in partnership with other universities and services. The evaluation of the contents of the publications was done from the categorization into four themes: politics, planning and management; health education; morbidity and health promotion. CONCLUSION: The relationship that Unifesp researches have with SUS network has become constructive in the last seven years: there are efforts to increase its stability, improving its dynamics, planning and management.