Journal of cutaneous pathology
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Eruptive xanthoma is defined by the combination of its clinical and histopathological features. While a nodular dermal infiltrate rich in foamy macrophages and associated with extracellular lipid deposition is typical of eruptive xanthoma, some microscopical variability can be seen. Herein, we report an unusual case of eruptive xanthoma exhibiting triglyceride deposition in a peculiar configuration. ⋯ Such material has been previously termed 'urate-like crystals'. An immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to lipoprotein suggested that the substance is composed of chylomicrons. This observation suggests that naked chylomicrons may be deposited in the dermis of patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.
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Case Reports
Granulomatous vasculitis in Crohn's disease: a clinicopathologic correlate of two unusual cases.
Cutaneous complications occur not uncommonly in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Gastrointestinal CD often shows non-caseating granulomas and a rare cutaneous finding in CD is a sterile granulomatous infiltrate not contiguous with the GI tract, termed extraintestinal CD (ECD). The clinical presentation of ECD is diverse. ⋯ Histopathologically, a granulomatous vasculitis of small and medium-sized vessels in the dermis and subcutis was evident. These two cases represent the rarely described phenomenon of cutaneous granulomatous vasculitis in CD. Previously reported examples of this entity are reviewed.
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We present a case of an 18-year-old female with clinical, histological and immunopathological features of overlapping pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid. This case is unique both in the context of the distinctive hybrid nature of the bullous disorder and the young age of onset. ⋯ A subsequent biopsy however confirmed a combined pemphigus and pemphigoid pattern both in the context of the light microscopic findings and by immunofluorescence. The pathophysiologic basis of this distinctive hybrid dermatosis along with the other reported cases of overlapping pemphigus and pemphigoid are reviewed.
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Cholesterol embolism (CE) is characterized by emboli containing cholesterol crystal in the arterioles, most commonly found in the skin and the kidney. The skin presentations of CE include livedo reticularis, blue toe syndrome, ulceration and gangrene. Cutaneous reactive angiomatosis (CRA) is a recently proposed term to describe a group of reactive vascular proliferation in skin caused by various diseases. ⋯ In addition, cholesterol crystal emboli were found in dermal arterioles. The skin lesions improved after the warfarin dose was reduced. We emphasize the possible presence of CE in a patient presented with CRA, especially in those with a pre-existing atherosclerotic disease, on anticoagulation therapy, or having a prior history of invasive vascular procedure.
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Hypertrophic scars in burn victims usually occur after delayed wound healing and the active phase of scar formation can persist substantially even after wound closure. Currently, the pathophysiology of the hypertrophic scar is not completely understood. This study investigated the inflammatory response in scar tissue at week 6 post-burn injury. ⋯ This study identifies microscopic inflammatory foci in the porcine scar tissue layer and recommends thorough cleaning/debriding of burned necrotic tissue in order to minimize the formation of these inflammatory foci in scar tissue.