Recurrent cutaneous eosinophilic vasculitis characterized by annular purpuric lesions: A case report

A 71-year-old woman presented with a persistent, intensely pruritic cutaneous eruption localized on the palmoplantar regions, lips and palate. The histological findings allowed to make the diagnosis of recurrent cutaneous eosinophilic vasculitis, a very rare cutaneous vasculitis characterized clinically by multiple erythematous or purpuric erythematous papules or plaques or angioedema with a relapsing course in the absence of systemic involvement and histologically by a necrotizing vasculitis of the dermal small vessels with a dominant eosinophilic infiltration. The patient was treated with oral methylprednisolone and pentoxifylline which led to a rapid resolution of the cutaneous lesions

Acneiform Eruption Induced by Cetuximab

Cetuximab is a recombinant human/mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cetuximab is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer as monotherapy in patients who are intolerant to irinotecan-based chemotherapy, or in combination with irinotecan in patients who are refractory to irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Due to the important role of the EGFR in skin homeostasis, cutaneous reactions are a common adverse effect of cetuximab, mainly as acneiform follicular eruption seen in almost 85% of patients. We report on a 46-year-old female Caucasian patient with metastatic colorectal cancer, referred to our department for acneiform eruption induced by cetuximab in combination with irinotecan. Four days after the first infusion the patient developed intense acneiform eruption consisting of erythematous follicular papules and pustules spread to the face, neck and upper part of the trunk, accompanied by intense pruritus and fever (38.0 degrees C). There were no comeclones. Biopsy specimen revealed superficial and florid neutrophilic suppurative folliculitis. She was treated with erythromycin tablet 600 mg, three times a day for 1 month, and topical clindamycin solution 3%. After 1 month of treatment, the lesions consistently faded, and the patient continued receiving immunochemotherapy

A man with a widespread bullous eruption

A man with a widespread bullous eruptio

Eosinophilic annular erythema successfully treated with cyclosporine

Eosinophilic annular erythema (EAE) is a rare, benign eosinophilic dermatosis, first described in infants in 1981 by Peterson and Jarratt as annular erythema of infancy, and in adults in 2000 by Kahofer et al.1 Clinically, EAE is characterized by annular erythematous papules and plaques at the trunk and extremities, with a centrifugal growth pattern and a central area of clearing

A Case of Superficial Granulomatous Pyoderma Mimicking a Basal Cell Carcinoma

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology with distinct clinical manifestations, frequently associated with systemic diseases. Four clinical and histological variants have been described: ulcerative, pustular, bullous and vegetative. We report a case of Superficial Granulomatous Pyoderma (SGP), a vegetative form of PG, in a 40-year-old woman. Physical examination revealed an erythematous crusted plaque, measuring 2 cm in diameter, located on her left hip, presented 18 months ago. Dermoscopy showed lack of pigment network, large gray-blue ovoid nests, irregular peripheral vessels and ulceration. Laboratory examinations were normal; smears and cultures for bacteria and fungi were negative. Clinical and dermatoscopical presentation suggested diagnosis of a basal cell carcinoma. The lesion had been totally removed: histological examination showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with intraepidermal micro-abscesses and prominent dermal inflammatory infiltrate with typical three-layered granulomas consisting of palisading suppurative granulomas surrounded by plasma cell and eosinophils (diffuse neutrophilic infiltration with dermal inflammatory infiltrates consisting of epithelioid histiocytes, lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells). Based on clinical and histological correlation, SPG was definitively diagnosed.</p

Pyoderma gangrenosum associated with pseudo-PelgerHuët anomaly in a patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis

Pseudo-Pelger-Huët anomaly is a condition in which almost all the granulocytes are hyposegmented and/or hypogranulated. It is typically recognized in peripheral blood smears and represents a marker of several disorders, such as myeloproliferative diseases and myelodysplasia. The occurrence of the pseudoPelger-Huët anomaly in the cutaneous infiltrate of pyoderma gangrenosum is very rare. We describe the case of a 70-year-old man with idiopathic myelofibrosis who developed pyoderma gangrenosum. Histological examination showed an infiltrate consisting of granulocytic elements with features of dysmaturity and segmentation anomalies (hypo- and hypersegmented forms), suggestive of pseudo-Pelger-Huët anomaly. Methylprednisolone treatment resulted in progressive improvement of pyoderma gangrenosum

Annually Recurring Erythema Annulare Centrifugum: A New Case Series with Review of the Literature

Annually recurring erythema annulare centrifugum (AR-EAC) is a rare variant, characterized by typical annular plaques recurring in the same period of the year. We describe 5 new cases and present a review of the literature. Patients were 3 females and 2 males with an age range of 25–55 years. Multiple annular plaques were located at the thighs in 4 patients and the neck in one patient. In 1 patient, a single lesion was present. Plaques were recurring in summer in 3 cases; in 1 case, in spring; and another patient, in winter since 3–4 years. Lesions were self-healing in few days or weeks. Histologically, the epidermis presented mild acanthosis with patchy spongiosis, slight parakeratosis, and mild exocytosis. There was a perivascular lympho-histiocytic infiltrate of variable intensity in the superficial dermis, with occasional eosinophils. In 1 case, the inflammatory infiltrate reached the deep dermis. Mucin deposition was absent. Phenotyping studies in 1 case revealed a predominance of T cells, with a small B-cell component. Moreover, a moderate number of CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells and CD1a+ dendritic cells were noted. Fourteen cases of AR-EAC have been published previously. Collectively, patients’ age ranged from 16 to 83 years, with a mean age of 47 years and a disease duration of 1–30 years. Lesions affected more frequently extremities and recurred most commonly in summer. Patients were all in good general health. Topical corticosteroids were the mainstay of treatment. AR-EAC is a benign disorder, the nature of which remains enigmatic

RET mutation and increased angiogenesis in medullary thyroid carcinomas

Advanced medullary thyroid cancers (MTCs) are now being treated with drugs that inhibit receptor tyrosine kinases, many of which involved in angiogenesis. Response rates vary widely, and toxic effects are common, so treatment should be reserved for MTCs likely to be responsive to these drugs. RET mutations are common in MTCs, but it is unclear how they influence the microvascularization of these tumors. We examined 45 MTCs with germ-line or somatic RET mutations (RETmut group) and 34 with wild-type RET (RETwt). Taqman Low-Density Arrays were used to assess proangiogenic gene expression. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess intratumoral, peritumoral and nontumoral expression levels of VEGFR1, R2, R3, PDGFRa, PDGFB and NOTCH3. We also assessed microvessel density (MVD) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) based on CD31-positive and podoplanin-positive vessel counts, respectively, and vascular pericyte density based on staining for a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), a pericyte marker. Compared with RETwt tumors, RETmut tumors exhibited upregulated expression of proangiogenic genes (mRNA and protein), especially VEGFR1, PDGFB and NOTCH3. MVDs and LVDs were similar in the two groups. However, microvessels in RETmut tumors were more likely to be a-SMA positive, indicating enhanced coverage by pericytes, which play key roles in vessel sprouting, maturation and stabilization. These data suggest that angiogenesis in RETmut MTCs may be more intense and complete than that found in RETwt tumors, a feature that might increase their susceptibility to antiangiogenic therapy. Given their increased vascular pericyte density, RETmut MTCs might also benefit from combined or preliminary treatment with PDGF inhibitors

Primary cutaneous plasmacytoma after rejection of a transplanted kidney: case report and review of the literature.

Immunosuppressed organ allograft recipients are at risk of developing lymphomas and lymphoproliferative disorders as a consequence of immunosuppressive therapy and long-term antigenic stimulation from both the graft and possible viral infections. No more than 4% of the malignant tumors detected in organ recipients are plasmacytomas. Primary cutaneous plasmacytoma is a rare type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma arising primarily in the skin. It is derived from clonally expanded plasma cells with various degrees of maturation and atypia. We report the occurrence of a solitary cutaneous plasmacytoma in a 56-year-old male patient undergoing hemodialysis after rejection of a grafted kidney. The diagnosis was made a few months after the kidney had been surgically removed. A thorough examination showed no evidence of systemic disease. Skin lesions were successfully treated with local radiotherapy. After 2 years of follow-up there were no local or systemic recurrences

Exceptional Response in BRAF p.V600E-Mutant Enteric-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Lung With Cutaneous Spread: A Case Report

Background: Enteric-type adenocarcinoma of the lung (lung-ETAC) is a rare form of lung cancer with histologic similarities to colorectal cancer, with aggressive behavior and unfavorable prognosis. Case presentation: An 81-year-old man presented with discolored skin lesions on the chest and abdomen. After comprehensive evaluation, including skin biopsy and molecular profiling, the patient was diagnosed with having lung-ETAC with a BRAF p.V600E mutation. Treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib initially resulted in positive results, with improvement in skin lesions and overall clinical condition. Nevertheless, approximately 6 months after, the disease had progression with new skin lesions reappearing. Conclusions: We reported a unique case of a patient with BRAF p.V600E-mutant lung-ETAC with metastatic skin lesions achieving complete cutaneous response after targeted treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib, highlighting the potential for targeted therapy in patients with lung-ETAC harboring a BRAF p.V600E mutation