The Incidence of Pruritus and Biochemical Marker Associated with Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients

No abstract available.

A Case of Localized Cutaneous Infection Caused by Scedosporium apiospermum Presenting as Cellulitis

No abstract available.

A Case of Infantile Tinea Capitis Treated with Oral Fluconazole / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Serum Procalcitonin Level Reflects the Severity of Cellulitis

BACKGROUND: Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the superficial skin. Procalcitonin is one of the precursor proteins of calcitonin, its levels are elevated in bacterial infection, and it has been established as a diagnostic marker for severe bacterial infections. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the clinical usefulness of procalcitonin for predicting disease severity and prognosis of cellulitis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 160 patients diagnosed with cellulitis in the past 3 years. Body temperature, procalcitonin, white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on their first day of admission. The associations of procalcitonin, WBC, ESR, and CRP with the body temperature and the number of hospitalized days were assessed. RESULTS: Procalcitonin, WBC, and CRP showed a positive correlation with body temperature. In addition, procalcitonin, WBC, ESR, and CRP showed a positive correlation with number of hospitalized days (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients diagnosed with cellulitis, proclacitonin was a helpful parameter to indicate the severity of disease and also a useful predictor of prognosis.

Primary Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma Composed of Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Epithelioid Sarcoma / 대한피부과학회지

Cutaneous carcinosarcoma is a biphasic, rare tumor composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. The most common carcinoma component is a squamous cell carcinoma and the most common sarcoma component is an osteosarcoma. A 74-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with a 3.5x3.5 cm-sized exophytic, eroded tumor surrounded by an erythematous plaque on her right flank that had been present for 10 years. On the incisional biopsy specimen, the tumor was composed of atypical malignant squamous cells and epithelioid cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive to cytokeratin AE1/AE3, cytokeratin 5/6, epithelial membrane antigen, p63, and vimentin but were negative to HMB45, S-100, CD31, CD34, factor VIII, smooth muscle actin, and desmin. Finally, based on these histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, we diagnosed this tumor as cutaneous carcinosarcoma consisting of squamous cell carcinoma and epithelioid sarcoma.

A Clinicopathological Study of Pilomatricomas in Patients over 50 Years of Age / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Pilomatricoma is a benign, appendageal tumor differentiating towards the normal hair follicles and is characterized by basaloid, transitional, and shadow cells. It is most frequently seen in children; however, a bimodal onset distribution is observed in the first and sixth decades. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and histopathological features of pilomatricomas in patients over 50 years of age, and to compare these features with those occurring in patients under 20 years of age. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and histopathological findings of 73 patients under 20 years and above 50 years of age. The morphological stages of the tumors were analyzed through histopathological findings. RESULTS: The age of patients in the over 50-year age group ranged from 50 to 82 years, with a mean age of 60 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. The duration of lesions was from 1 month to several years, with half of the patients having the tumors for over 12 months. The predilection sites were the head (51%), followed by the upper extremities (21%), neck (15%), trunk (6%), and lower extremities (6%). In 73% of the patients over 50 years of age, pilomatricoma was less likely the suspected diagnosis compared with that in the under 20-year age group. Epidermal cysts were most likely suspected in patients over 50 years of age. Histopathologically, half of the tumors were located in the subcutis, which was not significantly different when compared with pilomatricomas in the under 20-year age group. The most common evolutional stage of tumors was early regressive (52%), followed by late regressive (27%), fully developed (15%), and early stage (6%). Capsulation (9%), inflammatory cell infiltration (60%), multinucleated giant cells (36%), calcification (33%), and ossification (12%) were observed. With the exception of capsulation, there were no significant differences in these histopathological features in pilomatricomas in patients over 50 years of age compared with those in patients under 20 years of age. CONCLUSION: Pilomatrichomas in patients over 50 years of age show no pain, are located in the head and neck, are present for a long duration, and have various clinical presentations when compared with those in patients under 20 years of age. However, they are not rare tumors in adults. Accordingly, pilomatricomas should be included in the clinical differential diagnosis of a solitary, deep skin tumors presenting in adults, especially when they occur on the head.

A Case of Cutaneous Mucormycosis Occurring after Systemic Steroid Therapy / 대한의진균학회지

Cutaneous mucormycosis is a rare disease caused by zygomycetes such as Rhizomucor, Mucor, Absidia, and Rhizopus. The disease usually occurs in immunocompromised individuals, and the organism is rarely pathogenic in an immunocompetent host. Herein, we report a 77-year-old female patient who had multiple erythematous papules and pustules on the left 3rd finger. She had received systemic steroid therapy prior to the occurrence of the skin lesions. The histopathological examination of Periodic Acid Schiff stained section showed chronic granulomatous inflammation and fungal hyphae. Rhizopus species was isolated on the fungal culture of the tissue specimen. The patient was finally diagnosed with cutaneous mucormycosis and was treated with itraconazole.