International journal of dermatology
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Review Case Reports
ALK-positive primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature.
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) limited to the skin is a distinct disease that is designated primary cutaneous ALCL (pcALCL). It has an indolent course with a significantly better prognosis compared to systemic ALCL (sALCL). Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression in lesions of cutaneous ALCL is classically considered to be a marker for skin involvement by sALCL. ⋯ We conclude that ALK-positivity in cutaneous ALCL does not necessarily imply systemic disease. ALK-positive pcALCL has an excellent prognosis and should be treated by excision and/or radiotherapy. However, patients must remain under close long-term follow-up as recurrence and progression to systemic disease may occur.
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Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) is a pigmentary disorder of unknown pathogenesis characterized by small discrete white macules. In the skin, epidermal melanin unit between melanocytes and keratinocytes is responsible for melanin synthesis and equal distribution of melanin pigment. ⋯ This study revealed large-sized melanocytes with small and retracted dendrites in IGH patients. Accumulation of more melanin in the IGH melanocytes might be due to problem in the transfer of melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes. Accumulation of melanin can lead to the senescence in the melanocytes of IGH patients.
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Although dermatology is largely considered as an outpatient specialty, dermatological conditions comprise 5-8% of cases presenting to the emergency department. The need for a dermatological intensive care unit is widely acknowledged due to the increasing incidence of acute skin failure. Very few studies have been done to characterize the common conditions seen in the emergency department and intensive care units. We undertook this study to analyze the spectrum of dermatological conditions presenting to the emergency department and the clinical profile of patients admitted to the intensive care unit. ⋯ This prospective study aimed to provide an insight into the types of cases evaluated in the emergency department by dermatologists in a large tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka in South India.