Faculty Bibliography

The histopathologic presence of a cornoid lamella is often associated with a diagnosis of porokeratosis. However, this feature is not pathognomonic for porokeratosis and can be found in a number of other dermatologic conditions, which include seborrheic keratosis, verruca vulgaris, actinic keratosis, squamous-cell carcinoma in situ, basal-cell carcinoma, milia, and scar. Notably, the etiology of none of these entities is inflammatory. Wade and Ackerman consider cornoid lamellation to be a distinctive histopathologic reaction pattern that reflects the disordered progression of epidermal cells during cornification. As such, this pattern is not specific for any given disease process. We report a case in which the lesions appeared inflammatory clinically as well as histopathologically, did not resemble porokeratosis despite the presence of cornoid lamellae, and responded to topical glucocorticoids

A 4-month-old girl developed coalescing, red-purple, firm plaques with irregular borders and superimposed papules in the left groin. The lesions were tender to palpation and they slowly expanded and became thicker over the next year. Histopathologic evaluation showed multiple, discrete lobules of tightly packed capillaries in a 'cannonball' pattern within the dermis, which confirmed the diagnosis of tufted angioma. The clinical and histopathologic features, natural history, and treatment options for tufted angiomas are reviewed; their relationship to kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas is discussed

A 37-year-old woman presented with a one-year history of asymptomatic, red-brown patches and plaques on the abdomen and extremities, in the context of Raynaud phenomenon and anti-centromere antibodies. Two biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis of inflammatory morphea. Even in the absence of initial symptoms to support systemic disease, patients presenting with morphea in the setting of Raynaud phenomenon or anti-centromere antibodies deserve close surveillance for the possibility of CREST syndrome and systemic sclerosis

A 49-year-old woman presented with a seven-year history of pruritic, erythematous, scaling plaques on sun-exposed skin that localized only to pre-existing depigmented patches. Histopathologic examination showed changes consistent with cutaneous lupus erythematosus with lichenoid features and confirmed contiguous vitiligo. Diagnosis of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus localized to areas of vitiligo was determined by clinicopathologic correlation and may reflect an autoimmune diathesis. Consequently, hydroxychloroquine and topical glucocorticoids therapy were initiated with reported improvement in pruritus, erythema, and scale. Clinical monitoring for development of squamous-cell carcinoma in areas of chronic inflammation and sun-exposure is imperative

A 64-year-old man presented with a superficial, well-demarcated, skin-colored tumor on the left posterior scalp that measured 4 x 5 x 6 cm. The tumor was nearly hairless, rubbery, non-tender, and mobile over the underlying subcutaneous tissues. The lesion had grown slowly since arising approximately 30 years ago. Treatment options were declined in the past. However, with relatively more rapid growth over the past five years, the nodule began to cause intermittent pain and interfere with the patient's ability to lie on his back. The patient denied a history of similar lesions in himself or his family. A biopsy specimen showed a ruptured proliferating trichilemmal cyst with focal calcification. Complete excision is recommended for all benign proliferating variants owing to their potential for locally aggressive behavior and malignant transformation

A 34-year-old woman presented with large, scaly patches of alopecia with a peripheral rim of violaceous, folliculocentric papules and appreciable pruritus of one-year duration. Histopathologic examination showed changes consistent with lichen planopilaris and psoriasis, which was suggested by neutrophilic spongiosis. Consequently, cyclosporine and betamethasone valerate topical 0.12 percent foam twice daily were initiated. A short time after, there was clinical reduction of perifollicular erythema and attenuation of pruritus. However, there was no decrease of scale. Although LLP is classified in the lymphocytic group of cicatricial alopecias, this case demonstrates a clinical and histopathologic overlap with a psoriasiform dermatosis which may represent a collision of two diseases

A 55-year-old woman with melasma develops biopsy-proved exogenous ochronosis in the setting of prolonged topical hydroquinone use. A limited number of similar reports exist in the US literature and are the basis for an FDA call to review hydroquinone-based products. This case underscores the difficult therapeutic dilemma which this diagnosis presents to dermatologists

Solitary fibrous tumor is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that can arise in both pleural and extrapleural locations. Composed of spindled cells intimately admixed with collagen bundles arranged in a 'patternless pattern,' this heterogeneous tumor can mimic a variety of benign and malignant mesenchymal neoplasms. We present the histological and immunohistochemical findings of two primary cutaneous solitary fibrous tumors, discuss the differential diagnosis, and review the literature. Although solitary fibrous tumors in cutaneous and subcutaneous regions are extremely rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of primary spindle cell neoplasms of the skin