Faculty Bibliography

Lipedema refers to the abnormal deposition of subcutaneous fat causing a striking enlargement of the lower extremities that is out of proportion to the upper body. Most clinicians are unaware of this disease and thus it is seldom diagnosed correctly. Cutaneous myiasis is the infestation of skin by fly larvae. We describe an unusual case of a woman with lipedema who developed cutaneous myiasis.

BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been an important therapy in the treatment of a large number of cutaneous pathologies for more than three decades. OBJECTIVE: In this retrospective review, we document the use of NSAIDs in more than 15 common and uncommon dermatoses, including acne, psoriasis, sunburn, erythema nodosum, cryoglobulinemia, Sweet's syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, as well as urticarial, livedoid, and nodular vasculitis. NSAIDs act mainly by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis by the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. CONCLUSION: Recent studies link prostaglandin to cutaneous carcinogenesis, thus expanding the dermatologic use of NSAIDs. They may be effective in the treatment and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer, and specific COX-2 inhibitors promise safer, broader, long-term use of these pharmacologically innovative drugs.