Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic, granulomatous, suppurative mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by traumatic inoculation of dematiaceous fungi of the family Herpotrichiellaceae. The species Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii are prevalent in regions where the disease is endemic. Chromoblastomycosis lesions are polymorphous: verrucous, nodular, tumoral, plaque-like, and atrophic. It is an occupational disease that predominates in tropical and subtropical regions, but there have been several reports of cases in temperate regions. The disease mainly affects current or former farm workers, mostly males, and often leaving disabling sequelae. This mycosis is still a therapeutic challenge due to frequent recurrence of lesions. Patients with extensive lesions require a combination of pharmacological and physical therapies. The article provides an update of epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Background: Cutaneous melanoma accounts for up to 80% of deaths caused by skin cancer. Diagnostic suspicion and access to medical care and early intervention in suspected cases is vital to the patient’s prognosis. Objectives: To compare demographic and histopathological characteristics of primary cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in the public healthcare system (Sistema Único de Saúde SUS) and the private system in Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study analyzed primary cutaneous melanoma cases recorded from 2003 to 2014 in the resident population of Joinville. Ethical approval was obtained from the local Research Ethics Committee. Results: 893 cases of primary cutaneous melanoma were identified. Patients in the private system were mostly younger, while there were more elderly patients in the public healthcare system (p <0.001). There was no statistically significant association between type of care (public/private) and gender or presence of multiple primary cutaneous melanomas. Histological diagnosis of superficial spreading melanoma was more common in patients treated in private healthcare, while nodular melanoma was more frequent in patients in the public healthcare system (p <0.001). Mean Breslow depth in patients treated in private healthcare was 1.35mm, compared to 2.72mm in the public system (p <0.001). Study limitations: This was a retrospective study using secondary databases. Conclusions: thin cutaneous melanoma (in situ cutaneous melanoma and Breslow T1) showed the strongest association with the private healthcare system, while thick cutaneous melanoma was more frequent in the public system (Breslow category T3 and T4) (p <0.001).

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Background: Brazilian Unified Health System presents a long waiting period for a dermatology appointment, varying from 34 to 239 days. Objectives: Analyze the prevalence of cutaneous diseases evaluated by dermatologists in a specialized center, in patients referred from the primary care, and to present possible interventions for the primary units. Methods: Retrospective analyses of the International Codes of Diseases (ICD-10) described in every dermatology appointment in a specialty center in Sao Paulo from January 2014 to August 2015. Results: A total of 7.350 consultations were included. Superficial mycosis corresponded to 1,058 (14.4%) of the main complaints and dermatophytosis was the most frequently used ICD, corresponding to 481 individual consultations (6.5%), followed by onychomycosis, responsible for 464 consultations (6.3%), acne in 347 (4,7%). and contact dermatitis in 311 consultations (4,2%). Study limitations: The study was based on retrospective analysis of ICD described and no previous orientation for a solid use of the codes was performed to the dermatology team; consultations in which the ICD was not informed or a non-especific ICD was used were excluded; different dermatologists were responsible for the consultations. Conclusion: Superficial mycosis corresponded to 14.4% of the chief complaints in the studied period and was the most frequent cause of reference from primary care doctors to dermatologists. Prevalence data obtained in the present study could assist the capacitation policies in the primary care system, focusing the dermatology teaching in the most prevalent dermatological disorders.

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Abstract: Background: There have been no studies to date on the frequency and reactivity of aanti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA-5) in samples from the Brazilian population with dermatomyositis. Objectives: To analyze this autoantibody in the Brazilian population. Methods: This was a single-center cross-sectional study in which 131 consecutive adult patients (109 dermatomyositis and 22 clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis) with active disease were evaluated from 2000 to 2016. Analysis of the anti-MDA-5 autoantibody was performed by ELISA. Results: The presence of this autoantibody was observed in 14.7% and 22.7% of patients with dermatomyositis and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis, respectively. In the case of dermatomyositis, the autoantibody was associated less frequently with Raynaud’s phenomenon and periungual hyperemia (P<0.05). In clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis, the presence of this autoantibody was not associated statistically with any demographic, clinical, laboratory, or imaging characteristics. Study limitations: The cross-sectional study design did not allow establishing a temporal correlation between anti-MDA-5 autoantibody and various study variables. In addition, pulmonary function tests were not performed in the patients. Conclusions: The frequency of anti-MDA-5 autoantibody was comparable to that of other populations with dermatomyositis, but with a different reactivity than described in the literature. In addition, there was a phenotypic variability between our patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis and those described in the literature. Further studies are needed to confirm the current study’s findings and elucidate this autoantibody’s reactivity in Brazilians with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Background: Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a rare neoplasm with indolent progression. Since 1981, the Kaposi’s sarcoma epidemic has increased as co-infection with HIV. Objectives: The study aimed to identify the clinical and demographic characteristics and therapeutic approaches in HIV/AIDS patients in a regional referral hospital. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 51 patients with histopathological diagnosis of Kaposi’s sarcoma hospitalized at Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto (HUJBB) from 2004 to 2015. Results: The study sample consisted of individuals 15 to 44 years of age (80.4%), male (80.4%), single (86.3%), and residing in Greater Metropolitan Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The primary skin lesions identified at diagnosis were violaceous macules (45%) and violaceous papules (25%). Visceral involvement was seen in 62.7%, mainly affecting the stomach (75%). The most frequent treatment regimen was 2 NRTI + NNRTI, and 60.8% were referred to chemotherapy. Study limitations: We assumed that more patients had been admitted to hospital without histopathological confirmation or with pathology reports from other services, so that the current study probably underestimated the number of KS cases. Conclusion: Although the cutaneous manifestations in most of these patients were non-exuberant skin lesions like macules and papules, many already showed visceral involvement. Meticulous screening of these patients is thus mandatory, even if the skin lesions are subtle and localized.

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Abstract: Background: Actinic keratoses are benign intraepithelial skin neoplasms that develop in photoexposed areas and can progress to invasive carcinoma. They are seen frequently in dermatological practice, occurring in 5.1% of consultations. Ingenol mebutate (IM) was recently approved in Brazil as a topical therapy for field cancerization in actinic keratosis. Objective: To evaluate the clearance rate and adverse events in the treatment of actinic keratoses with ingenol mebutate. Methods: A longitudinal, prospective, non-randomized, interventional, open, single-center study was conducted. Patients with actinic keratoses applied ingenol mebutate on a 25cm2 area of the face and/or scalp for three consecutive days (0.015%) or on the forearm for two days (0.05%). Results: 27 patients completed the protocol, of whom 13 on the face and/or scalp and 14 on the forearm. Complete clearance occurred in 53.8% in the first group and 42.8% in the second. Partial response was observed in 15.4% and 35.7%, respectively. The most common side effects were erythema, edema, desquamation, pruritus, and local erosion. Study limitations: The study had a small sample and was not randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, or vehicle-controlled. Conclusion: Ingenol mebutate is well-tolerated for the treatment of actinic keratosis, with good patient adherence thanks to the short treatment period.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Background: Recent studies that investigated the effect of vitamin D on skin cancer risk have exhibited inconsistent results. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate vitamin D status in patients with actinic keratosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 31 patients with actinic keratosis and 29 healthy controls. Serum vitamin D levels in the study group were determined by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Serum 25(OH)D levels in patients with actinic keratosis were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls (P=0.04). Prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly higher in the healthy controls (75.9%) compared to the patients with actinic keratosis (54.8%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.09). Study limitations: The cross-sectional design of the study, data on smoking based on patient self-report, and subjects’ different dietary habits, which can influence 25(OH)D levels, are the study’s limitations. Conclusion: Serum vitamin D level can be used as a marker for ultraviolet B radiation from sun exposure; therefore, it can be used in individuals at risk of actinic keratosis. Oral intake of vitamin D through diet or supplements is proposed instead of prolonged ultraviolet exposure to maintain adequate vitamin D serum levels. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of vitamin D in skin carcinogenesis.

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Abstract: Background: To study the effective therapeutic concentration, drug application duration, irradiation duration and irradiation dosage of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) for treating vitiligo and observe its clinical efficacy. Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of ALA-PDT for treating vitiligo. Methods: ALA with different drug concentrations, drug application durations, irradiation durations and irradiation dosages were adopted to treat skin lesions caused by vitiligo to determine the effective drug concentration, drug application duration, irradiation duration and irradiation dosage for treating three vitiligo volunteers and observe the therapeutic results. Results: The clinical trial suggested that ALA at a drug concentration of 1.5%, drug application duration for 3 hours, irradiation dosage of 80mw/cm2 and irradiation duration for 20 min was effective in treating vitiligo. Under these parameters, ALA-PDT was effective to the three vitiligo volunteers, with mild pain and feeling of burning but no other adverse reaction during treatment. Study limitations: Due to the small sample size in this study for the effectiveness of PDT in treating vitiligo and the potential variations in the efficacy for treating the disease at different areas, further studies shall be conducted for confirmation. Conclusions: ALA with a drug concentration at 1.5%, drug application duration for 3 hours, irradiation dosage of 80 mw/cm2 and irradiation duration for 20 min is effective in treating vitiligo. Therefore, ALA-PDT is safe and effective in treating the disease, with minor adverse events, providing a new method for treating vitiligo in the future.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Background: Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of primary cutaneous lymphoma, with an indolent, slowly progressive course and 88% five-year survival rate. The diagnosis is challenging, especially in the early stages, and usually relies on a good clinical-histopathological correlation. Objective: The aim was to establish the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional observational study with an exploratory analysis. Outcome variables were disease progression and mycosis fungoides-related death. Results: One hundred and two patients were included. The majority were white males, with a mean age of 55.6 years. Mean time from onset of lesions to diagnosis was 51.08 months. The majority of patients were classified as IB stage according to TNMB. Mean follow-up time was 7.85 years. Disease progression was seen in 29.4% of the patients. Death related to the disease occurred in 7.9% of patients. Plaque lesions, involvement of more than 10% of the body surface, altered lactate dehydrogenase and beta-2-microglobulin, and stage IB were significantly associated with disease progression, and altered lactate dehydrogenase and beta-2-microglobulin also correlated with higher frequency of deaths. Study limitations: Small sample and retrospective design. Conclusions: The clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides in our sample corroborates reports in the literature. Diagnostic delay in our series is also consistent with previous findings, but the rate of disease progression, despite treatment, was higher than reported in the literature.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract: Cutaneous melanoma is the solid neoplasia with the highest growing incidence among all tumors. It spreads predictably to the lymphatic vessels and sentinel lymph node, and when the latter is affected the prognosis worsens dramatically. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is considered when thickness of the primary tumor exceeds 1mm and/or when there are adverse features in thinner melanomas. When there is nodal metastasis, current evidence in the literature recommends complete lymphadenectomy, although this procedure has its intrinsic risks (i.e., lymphedema and cellulitis), and there are no published clinical trials proving additional overall survival benefits. The current in-depth literature review thus aims to identify patients that will benefit most from the procedure, including those with the highest likelihood of presenting additional affected lymph nodes in the same nodal basin. The authors also discuss techniques for identification of the sentinel lymph node, false-negative rates, and predictive models for lymph node involvement. In conclusion, complete elective lymphadenectomy should always be discussed on a case-by-case basis when metastases are detected in the sentinel lymph node.

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Abstract: Acquired elastotic hemangioma is a hemangioma variant first described in 2002. It is characterized by being a benign, solitary, slow-growing lesion, that appears in adulthood and is associated with solar exposure. It is a rare hemangioma variant with few cases reported in the literature. We present a case of acquired elastotic hemangioma on the back of the right hand and forearm in a male adult. Acquired elastotic hemangioma is a benign vascular proliferation associated with solar exposure, usually assymptomatic. It affects adults between 59 and 65 years of age. Histopatologically it is characterized by proliferation of small vessels in the upper dermis that are disposed parallel to the epidermis, and significant solar elastosis. The treatment is surgical, with no relapses reported.

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Abstract: Fox-Fordyce disease is a relatively infrequent pathology of the apocrine glands that affects almost exclusively young women. The disease is characterized by the presence of pruritic follicular papules mainly in the armpits that respond poorly to treatment and severely affect the patient’s quality of life. We report two cases with clinical diagnosis and histopathological confirmation, presenting perifollicular xanthomatosis on histological examination, recently described as a distinctive, consistent, and specific feature of this disease.

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Abstract: Amicrobial pustulosis of the folds is a chronic relapsing neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by sterile pustules compromising skin folds, scalp, face and periorificial regions. It predominantly affects women. Demodicosis is an inflammatory disease associated with cutaneous overpopulation of the mite Demodex spp., the pathogenesis of which is not completely established, but is frequently related to local immunodeficiency. A case of a young woman with amicrobial pustulosis of the folds, and isolated worsening of facial lesions, is reported; investigation revealed overlapping demodicosis. There was complete regression of lesions with acaricide and cyclin treatment. This case warns of a poorly diagnosed but disfiguring and stigmatizing disease, often associated with underlying dermatoses or inadvertent treatments on the face.

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Abstract: A 59-year-old atopic man referred to for the onset of a diffused itching papular-purpuric eruption involving his trunk and legs but without systemic symptoms. History revealed that he started feeling itching after spending few hours in his basement. Direct examination of the environmental dust (www.edpa.it) showed high level of infestation of Solenopsis fugax, a small Myrmicinae ant. The skin eruption completely healed without scarring in 2 weeks. Specific disinfestation measures were performed and the patient did not comply of any recurrence during a 6-months follow-up.

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Abstract: Papular elastorrhexis is an acquired disease of elastic tissue; considered rare, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. The vast majority of cases occur in women in the first or second decade of life. The disease manifests as multiple uniformly-sized, circumscribed, hypochromic and achromic papules located predominantly on the trunk and upper extremities. The lesions are generally asymptomatic and have a stable evolution over years. Its diagnosis is based on clinical and histopathological findings. The benignity of papular elastorrhexis and the subtlety of its clinical changes make the expectant treatment perfectly viable. The authors present one case in a young female patient.

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Abstract: Sweet’s syndrome is a rare dermatosis with little-known pathogenesis, associated with some clinical conditions such as infections, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, vaccination, medications and neoplasms. Hematologic malignancies are the diseases most related to paraneoplastic Sweet’s syndrome, but this clinical entity can also be found occasionally in some solid tumors, including genitourinary tract tumors. We report a rare case of paraneoplastic Sweet’s syndrome associated with the diagnosis of cervical cancer.

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Abstract: Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare adnexal neoplasia with histologic features reminiscent of the outer root sheath of hair follicles. The clinical presentation of trichilemmal carcinoma is variable, as it may mimic basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, thus requiring histologic diagnosis. We report the case of a patient with aggressive trichilemmal carcinoma in the auricle.

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Abstract: Sclerodermus sp. is an aculeate insect (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), measuring 2-4 mm in length. It is a parasitoid and needs termites as hosts to complete its life cycle. It is found in a wide variety of woods and may accidentally sting humans who come near affected wooden objects. A 50-year-old woman presented two episodes of intense pruritic lesions. Clinical diagnosis of insect bite was doubtful since there were no pets at home, lesions had not started during summer and the patient denied rural activities. During a night episode of itching, the patient examined her bed and found 8 insects likely to be responsible for the bites. Scanning electron microscopy revealed typical features of a female of the genus (wingless and with multiple stingers at the lower end of the abdomen).

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Abstract: Harlequin syndrome is a rare condition in which one half of the face fails to flush and sweat due to damage of the sympathetic fibers on the ipsilateral side. The majority of cases are idiopathic, but may be iatrogenic or caused by space-occupying lesions or brainstem infarction. We report a case of idiopathic harlequin syndrome in a 34-year-old man with a 5-month history of unilateral facial flushing and sweating after exercise. Despite the rarity of this syndrome, dermatologists should be aware of this condition in order to diagnose properly and provide multidisciplinary assistance.

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Abstract: Granuloma faciale is a rare, chronic dermatologic disorder, which mainly affects the face. Recently, dermoscopy has been demonstrated as an important ancillary tool on the clinical diagnosis of facial dermatoses. We report two cases of granuloma faciale with yellow areas on dermoscopy that was not yet described in the literature, corresponding to abundant hemosiderin on histopathological examination.

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Abstract: Syphilis is a worldwide sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. Its association with other STIs, including HIV, demands early diagnosis and immediate treatment of patients. We herein report an unusual serpiginous form of secondary syphilis.

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Abstract: Donovanosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella granulomatis, which mainly affects the skin and mucous membranes of the genital, perigenital, and inguinal regions. Also known as venereal granuloma or granuloma inguinale, it is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe and often associated with sexual transmission. We report the case of an 11-year-old female victim of chronic sexual abuse, who was diagnosed with donovanosis and presented a good therapeutic response to doxycycline.

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Abstract: Reticulohistiocytomas represent a group of benign histiocytic dermal proliferations, which occur either sporadically as solitary cutaneous nodules or, when multiple, in association with systemic disease. Due to its nonspecific clinical presentation, reticulohistiocytoma may mimic other benign or malignant skin neoplasms; therefore, in most cases, a biopsy is needed in order to establish the correct diagnosis. The histology is typically characterized by the presence of large histiocytes with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with immunohistochemical profile positive for CD68, CD163, and vimentin. The authors report the case of a patient with solitary reticulohistiocytoma with illustrative clinical, dermoscopic, and histologic features.

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Abstract: Wet wrap dressings provide an ancillary treatment option for erythrodermic patients. Wet wrap therapy consists of the application of topical corticosteroids on all affected surfaces, followed by the application of a warm moist cotton cloth with a dry cotton cloth on top. The advantages of this procedure include its safety, as well as the prompt and marked improvement of the erythroderma. For erythrodermic psoriasis, wet wrap dressings can serve as an important rescue therapy option. The purpose of this study is to report a case series of seven patients with erythrodermic psoriasis that responded promptly to wet wrap therapy prior to the initiation of systemic treatment.

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Abstract: Surgical excision of basal cell carcinoma with minimum margins requires serial assessment of layers by frozen histopathology in the case of Mohs micrographic surgery. Evaluation of presurgical tumor margins by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy is a potential alternative. We selected 12 basal cell carcinoma lesions that were analyzed by confocal microscopy to define margins. The lesions were excised by Mohs surgery. Six tumors showed negative margins in the first phase of Mohs micrographic surgery. We concluded that reflectance confocal microscopy can be useful in the preoperative definition of basal cell carcinoma margins.

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Abstract: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon neutrophilic dermatosis, with variable clinical features, nonspecific histopathology and multifactorial pathogenesis, posing a challenging diagnosis for the dermatologist. Pyoderma gangrenosum is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be included in the differential diagnoses of the verrucous syndrome. We report a granulomatous variant affecting the face.

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Abstract: Several reports have demonstrated difficulties and lack of agreement in the histopathological diagnosis of particular melanocytic lesions, with problems in their management. A histogenetic approach to the study of these lesions originated the following classification: 1. superficial atypical proliferation significance; 2. melanocytic tumor of uncertain potential; 3. pigmented epithelioid melanocitoma of uncertain potential; 4. microinvasive radial growth phase of uncertain potential. The terminology remains controversial, reflecting the uncertainty of the diagnosis and the biological potential of these atypical melanocytic lesions.