Faculty Bibliography

A 26-year-old man presented with an 18-month history of a subcutaneous mass on his forehead that occurred shortly after being struck by a blunt object. Histopathologic examination showed a proliferation of bland spindle cells and a collagenous stroma that was consistent with cranial fasciitis. Cranial fasciitis, which is a variant of nodular fasciitis, is a benign fibroblastic neoplasm that overlies the skull and often is associated with trauma. Although its rapid onset may give the clinical impression of a malignant condition, cranial fasciitis typically is cured by simple excision without further sequelae.

Nevus lipomatosus superficialis is an uncommon cutaneous hamartoma that is characterized by the presence of adipose tissue within the reticular dermis. We describe a 15-year-old boy with a three-year history of the classic type of nevus lipomatosus superficialis, which presented as linear arrays of soft, cerebriform papulonodules and plaques in the right inguinal fold. Investigation for chromosomal aberrations and dysregulation of Wnt signaling may provide insights into the pathogenesis of this hamartoma. Treatment is usually with surgical excision although successful use of other modalities has been described.

Candida parapsilosis is an emerging fungal pathogen that was once thought to be solely a colonizing organism. C. parapsilosis is increasingly becoming reported as the most common Candida species that causes onychomycosis. Clinical findings include typically severe dystrophy of the nail fold and plate as well as thickening and fragmentation of the plate, particularly in the distal plate. We present a unique case of C. parapsilosis infection of the nail bed without infection of the nail plate and with twenty-nail melanonychia.

Vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, superficial variant of pyoderma gangrenosum that is more commonly found on the trunk as single or multiple, non-painful lesions. There is typically no associated underlying systemic disease. Compared to classic pyoderma gangrenosum, vegetative lesions are more likely to heal without the use of systemic glucocorticoids, although up to 39% of patients required a short course of prednisone in a review of 46 cases. Treatments for vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum include topical and intralesional glucocorticoids, minocycline or doxycycline, dapsone, colchicine, and, rarely, alternative steroid-sparing immunosuppressants. We present a case of multiple vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum lesions arising in prior surgical sites in a patient found to have IgA monoclonal gammopathy and abnormal urinary protein electrophoresis.

A 55-year-old woman presented after a four-year history of impetiginized eczema that was distributed over her face, scalp, chest, and back and a recent diagnosis of breast cancer. A skin biopsy specimen for direct immunofluorescence demonstrated intercellular IgG4. Anti-desmoglein 1 and 3 antibodies were present. Indirect immunofluorescence testing was positive on monkey but not rat esophagus. These findings were consistent with a diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus in association with a malignant condition. After many years of the use of topical glucocorticoids and oral antibiotics, the patient's disease was ultimately managed with methotrexate and a small dose of prednisone. Increasing data supports a role for a steroid-sparing effect of methotrexate in pemphigus vulgaris and likely pemphigus foliaceus.

Palmoplantar lichen planus (PPLP) is an uncommon variant of lichen planus that affects the palms and soles. Clinical findings are varied although they have been conceptualized into two large groupings, an erythematous scaly pattern and a hyperkeratotic pattern. Histopathologic features are those of classic LP. We present a case of PPLP that improved with methotrexate after failing treatment with acitretin.

Skin metastases from visceral malignancies have been well documented in the literature, and may be the presenting sign of an occult internal malignancy. Lung cancer in particular is a relatively common cause of skin metastases, which are considered a poor prognostic sign. Rarely, patients with lung cancer develop a second primary lung cancer that may require a novel chemotherapeutic regimen. The frequency of second primary malignancies presenting with metastatic skin lesions is not documented in the literature. We present a case of a 50-year-old man with a history of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who was referred for evaluation of a nodule overlying his right mandible, which had been progressively enlarging for two weeks. Biopsy demonstrated metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Subsequent CT-guided biopsy of a left retroperitoneal lymph node was conducted and notable for squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, this patient's skin lesion was the presenting sign of a second primary visceral tumor, likely originating in the lung. We present this case to raise clinical awareness of the rare phenomenon that cutaneous metastasis may be the first sign of a visceral cancer, even in the setting of a previous distinct primary malignancy

J Drugs Dermatol 2014;13(10):1277-1279.

IMPORTANCE Medications as well as chemical and food exposures have been causally linked to the development of pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD). We describe herein what is to our knowledge the first reported case of isotretinoin-induced PPD. OBSERVATIONS A woman in her 30s presented with purpura annularis telangiectodes of Majocchi on the lower extremities 2 months after initiating isotretinoin for the treatment of refractory nodulocystic acne. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We believe isotretinoin was the most likely causative agent in this case because the lesions began after initiation of isotretinoin treatment and resolved shortly after its termination, and the pathologic findings were consistent with other described cases of drug-induced PPD. The lesions have continued to fade, and no new lesions have developed in a 3-month follow-up period. Drug-induced PPD is distinct from idiopathic PPD, and it is important to consider isotretinoin as a potential inciting agent.

Morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) have similar clinical presentations. Reports of patients with overlapping clinical and histopathologic features of both conditions have led some to speculate that they may represent different presentations along the same disease spectrum. It has been postulated that there is a common etiologic agent, which may involve autoimmunity, response to trauma, or infection. The link between Borrelia infection and both morphea and LSA has been widely studied but remains controversial. We present a case of a patient with lesions characterized by overlapping features of morphea and LSA with rapid decrease in joint mobility.