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P A Fanti

Publications and source records attributed to P A Fanti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Melanocytic nevi of the breast: a histologic case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Melanocytic nevi in the genital, acral, and flexural sites often display clinical and histologic features that may simulate melanoma. We verified whether this is the case also for nevi of the breast. METHODS: Eleven dermatopathologists, from nine Italian Institutions, collected the specimens of melanocytic lesions from the breast and other body sites, excluding the acral, genital, and flexural areas, as controls. Cases and controls were matched for sex and age. All nevi were observed 'blindly' and simultaneously by all participants. For each lesion, 10 histological parameters were analyzed: asymmetry, absence of lateral demarcation of melanocytes, lentiginous proliferation, nested and dyshesive pattern, intraepidermal melanocytes above the basal layer, involvement of the hair follicle, absence of maturation of dermal melanocytes, melanocytic atypia, fibroplasia of the papillary dermis, and lymphocytic dermal infiltrate. Each parameter was scored 2 when present and 1 when absent or not valuable. A total score was calculated for each lesion. Results were statistically analyzed by the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: One hundred and one nevi came from the breast area and 97 from elsewhere. Breast nevi exhibited significantly more atypical features than nevi from other sites. In particular, breast nevi with intraepidermal melanocytes, melanocytic atypia, and dermal fibroplasia were significantly more numerous. We did not find any sexual difference. CONCLUSIONS: To avoid undue concerns, dermatopathologists should be aware that melanocytic nevi of the breast may show a high degree of atypical features.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Granular parakeratosis: four paediatric cases.

Axillary granular parakeratosis (GP) was first described in 1991 as a peculiar eruption presenting with erythematous hyperpigmented and hyperkeratotic papules and plaques of the cutaneous folds frequently associated with pruritus. Histopathology shows a characteristic picture with a conspicuous granular appearance of the parakeratotic horny layer. Until now, only 24 adults, mainly women aged over 40 years, have been reported with GP. We demonstrate that this condition can also occur in young children. Four children aged between 10 and 24 months had asymptomatic hyperpigmented scaling papules 2-3 mm in diameter located on the groin, lower back, buttocks and flanks. In all cases the mothers reported the habit of frequent washing followed by application of many topical products. Biopsy revealed the same features in all four patients: the epidermis showed a thickened horny layer with a unique compact parakeratosis with maintenance of the stratum granulosum and marked retention of keratohyaline granules throughout the stratum corneum.

Diaper Rash↗
PubMed2000

Onychomatricoma: report of three cases, including the first recognized in a colored man.

Onychomatricoma is an uncommon benign tumor of the nail matrix with typical clinical features. We report here 3 cases of onychomatricoma, including the first case in a black patient. In all three patients a presumptive diagnosis of onychomatricoma was made by clinical examination. The affected nails were thickened and showed a marked overcurvature of the nail plate. Frontal view of the nail revealed the presence of small woodworm-like cavities within the nail plate. In all cases the pathology showed multiple fibroepithelial projections that extended into the thickened nail plate. The tumor epithelium was identical to that of the normal nail matrix and keratinized without a granular layer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Psoriatic scarring alopecia: observations in four patients.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Although acute or chronic hair loss in psoriasis of the scalp can be a symptom of the disease, until now there has been no agreement as to whether or not it is only restricted to erythrodermic, generalized pustular and scalp plaque psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with chronic scalp psoriasis and alopecia and to determine if the alopecia was of the scarring type. RESULTS: We report four cases of psoriatic scarring alopecia and describe the clinical and histologic features of these patients. The diagnosis was made by scalp biopsies (vertical and transverse sections) and other causes of scarring alopecia were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis can cause scarring alopecia.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

"Endonyx" onychomycosis: a new modality of nail invasion by dermatophytes.

Three patients with onychomycosis due to Trichophyton soudanense with an "endonyx" type of nail invasion are presented. Endonyx onychomycosis is clinically characterized by a diffuse milky-white discolouration of the affected nail, in the absence of nail bed hyperkeratosis or onycholysis. Nail plate surface and nail thickness are normal. The pathology shows a contrast between the great number of fungal hyphae visible in the nail plate and the absence of fungal elements in the nail bed. The nail bed does not show inflammatory changes or hyperkeratosis and adheres strictly to the lowermost layers of the nail plate. The hyponychium is normal and does not contain hyphae. The endonyx pattern of nail infection appears to be specific to T. soudanense nail invasion and may possibly reflect the high affinity of T. soudanense to hard keratins.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Storiform collagenoma of the nail.

The term circumscribed storiform collagenoma was coined by Maize et al in 1989 to describe four dermal fibromas with pathologic features resembling the sclerotic fibromas associated with Cowden's disease. We report a subungual nodule with the pathologic features of circumscribed storiform collagenoma in a patient without Cowden's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Loose anagen hair.

OBJECTIVE: To review clinical and pathologic features and the long-term follow-up of patients with loose anagen hair (LAH). DESIGN: Clinical evaluation and long-term follow-up. SETTING: A university medical center. PATIENTS: Beginning in January 1990, 14 children and 5 adults (age range, 8 months to 47 years) were diagnosed as having LAH. Associated diseases included alopecia areata in a 3-year-old boy and Noonan syndrome in a 5-year-old boy. Two adult patients were parents of 2 affected children; the other 3 adults were the only members of their families with LAH. These 3 patients presented with a diffuse hair shedding that had suddenly developed 1 to 3 years before our observation. In all cases, findings of a trichogram showed a predominance of anagen hairs (80% to 100%) devoid of sheaths. INTERVENTION: None. RESULTS: In 4 children and 1 adult the condition remained stable; in 2 children and 1 adult, a considerable improvement in hair density was noticed. The pathologic study of hair from 5 patients did not reveal morphological abnormalities of the hair follicles except for a high incidence of fragmentations of the inner root sheath. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of our patients with LAH reveals that the condition does not develop exclusively during childhood but can occasionally manifest itself later in life. The development of LAH may be sporadic, occur in association with developmental or acquired conditions, or, less commonly, be a familial disorder. While adult-onset LAH may not be exceptional, it can be easily misdiagnosed as telogen hair loss. The pathologic findings of LAH do not demonstrate any specific features and are of little value in the diagnosis of this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Nail matrix nevi: a clinical and histopathologic study of twenty-two patients.

BACKGROUND: Because most dermatologists do not regularly perform biopsies of longitudinal melanonychia, even when the pigmentation presents as a single band, the true prevalence of nail matrix nevi is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of nail matrix nevi in white patients with longitudinal melanonychia involving a single digit and to determine whether longitudinal melanonychia caused by a nail matrix nevus can be clinically distinguished from longitudinal melanonychia from other causes. METHODS: From January 1989 to December 1994 we performed a nail biopsy on 100 of 128 consecutive white patients who had a single band of "idiopathic" longitudinal melanonychia. RESULTS: A nail matrix nevus was detected in 22 patients. A junctional nevus was found in 19 specimens and a compound nevus in three specimens. CONCLUSION: Nail matrix nevi in Caucasian patients are uncommon but not exceptional. The number of nevi presenting with longitudinal melanonychia exceeded that of melanoma. The diagnosis of nail matrix nevi is impossible clinically and always requires histopathologic study. The pathologic features of nail matrix nevi are similar to those of skin nevi except for their architectural pattern, which reflects the peculiar anatomy of the nail unit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Mid-dermal elastolysis: a pathological and ultrastructural study of five cases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of inflammatory phenomena and elastic fiber phagocytosis in mid-dermal elastolysis. The pathological and ultrastructural features of 5 Caucasian female patients (ranging from 26 to 40 years) with acquired diffuse asymptomatic areas of skin wrinkling have been reviewed. The clinical features of all cases were characteristic of this condition and only in one patient were erythematous urticaria-like, non pruriginous patches also observed. In 4 cases a history of prolonged sun bathing was present and in 3 cases there was a short history of oral contraception. The pathological study confirmed the typical absence of elastic fibers in the midreticular dermis. In two cases elastic fibers were still detectable in the periadnexal dermis. Hematoxylin and eosin sections showed a mild perivascular infiltrate in two cases, while in three patients histiocytes were scattered among collagen bundles. Multinucleated giant cells containing fragmented elastic fibers were detectable in one patient. Ultrastructural analysis revealed large mononuclear cells with phagocytic aspects toward elastic fibers in all cases.

Adult↗