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Biomedical subjects

S Kossard

Publications and source records attributed to S Kossard.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Lentinginous dysplastic naevi in the elderly: a potential precursor for malignant melanoma.

Seventy-seven skin biopsies diagnosed histologically as lentiginous junctional naevi from individuals aged over 60 years were reviewed. Seventy-three specimens showed a primarily nested pattern with disordered arthitecture concentrated within the rete ridges conforming to the pathology of a lentiginous dysplastic naevus. In 28 biopsies this was combined with a melanoma in situ. The latter was reflected by a focal loss of the rete ridge system, confluent melanocytic hyperplasia and single cell invasion of the epidermis by atypical malanocytes. Four biopsies showed lentiginous junctional naevi with only isolated naevus cell nests without a disordered architecture or cellular atypia. Thirty-seven of the 57 naevi in men were located on the back in contrast to 5 of the 20 women. In women the lower limb was the most frequent site with 8 of the 20 lesions originating at this site in contrast to 1 of the 57 men. The pathological diagnosis of dysplastic lentiginous naevi in the elderly needs to be recognised as having a high association of melanoma-in-situ changes.

Aged↗

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis. A histological review of 61 cases with particular reference to lymphocytic inflammation.

The pathology of 61 cases of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis was reviewed and the relative frequency of the histological features associated with the cornoid lamella and the pathology within and outside the porokeratotic rim were assessed. Papillary dermal lymphocytic infiltrate (97%), spinous layer vacuolar changes (90%), dyskeratotic cells in the epidermis (77%), and liquefaction degeneration of the basal layer (67%) were frequently seen under the cornoid lamella. Papillary lymphocytic infiltration was seen more frequently inside the porokeratotic ring in comparison to the outer skin. Lymphocyte marker studies in nine cases showed a predominance of activated T lymphocytes with positive LN3 and UCHL-1 staining. Together with the finding of a lichenoid reaction pattern, these results lend support to the hypothesis that actinic porokeratosis represents a migrating clone of abnormal keratinocytes with an associated immunological host response.

Atrophy↗

Reticular erythema with ostial porokeratosis.

An asymptomatic reticular erythema associated with myriads of monomorphous micropapules developed in a symmetric distribution concentrated on the inner aspects of both arms and both legs of a 15-year-old girl. Skin biopsy specimens revealed cornoid lamellae within multiple appendageal ostia and focal lymphocytic inflammation in the papillary dermis. Reticular erythema with ostial porokeratosis is one of an increasing number of clinical presentations of punctate porokeratosis that lack a classic marginated rim.

Adolescent↗

Halo eczema surrounding seborrhoeic keratoses: an example of perilesional nummular dermatitis.

Two patients developed halo eczema around isolated seborrhoeic keratoses and in one individual similar halo eczema developed around the nipples. This phenomenon which was previously described with melanocytic naevi has been associated with a number of different central lesions and can be readily recognised. Both the clinical pattern and histopathology suggest that this phenomenon may represent a localised form of nummular dermatitis with a predilection for elevated lesions.

Adult↗

Necrobiotic granulomas localised to the penis: a possible variant of subcutaneous granuloma annulare.

Three young men developed multiple firm asymptomatic nodules confined to the shaft of the penis. Skin biopsies from all 3 cases showed prominent necrobiotic granulomas indistinguishable from granuloma annulare. One of the patients had repeated recurrent nodules confined to the penis which were removed surgically over a period of 20 months. This unusual, but benign, presentation of granuloma annulare has to be distinguished from other granulomatous and malignant processes which may present as penile nodules.

Adult↗

Squamous cell carcinoma in porokeratosis in two patients.

Malignancy arising in porokeratoses is a well recognised but infrequently reported complication. Histological studies suggest that malignancy arises from the abnormal clone of keratinocytes which produce the cornoid lamella. We report two cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in porokeratoses and postulate genetic, environmental and host factors as important in the evolution of their malignancy.

Aged↗

Eruptive infundibulomas. A distinctive presentation of the tumor of follicular infundibulum.

Hundreds of asymptomatic pale erythematous lesions, 2 to 15 mm in diameter, with complex angulated shapes in a mantle distribution over the upper portion of the chest and back and the shoulders, developed in two unrelated young men. Actinic porokeratosis, discoid lupus erythematosus, pityriasis versicolor, and acne scars were considered as possible diagnoses, but none of these appeared appropriate. Multiple skin biopsy specimens from both patients showed tumors of follicular infundibulum (infundibulomas), benign platelike proliferations of the external root sheath that were outlined by a prominent brushlike elastic network. This presentation of the tumor of follicular infundibulum can be recognized by its unusual clinical pattern and histopathology.

Adult↗

The scleroderma neck sign.

The scleroderma neck sign, as described by Barnett, is a visible and palpable tight band over platysma in the hyperextended neck. A recent survey of 76 patients with scleroderma revealed that more than 90% had the scleroderma neck sign. Our study was performed using 15 patients with scleroderma and 30 controls including 3 with primary Raynaud's disease to examine the specificity of the scleroderma neck sign, and to look for a correlation between the presence of the scleroderma neck sign and histological changes of scleroderma in the skin overlying platysma. The scleroderma neck sign was present in 12 of the 15 patients with scleroderma but in none of the 30 controls. It was found both in patients with diffuse (5 out of 5) and limited (7 out of 10) scleroderma. In 10 of the 12 cases where the scleroderma neck sign was positive, there were characteristic histological changes of scleroderma on biopsy of the skin overlying platysma, in 1 there were nondiagnostic abnormalities, and in 1 the biopsy was unsatisfactory. The 3 patients with scleroderma in whom the scleroderma neck sign was absent had either nondiagnostic changes (1) or normal biopsies (2). The 3 patients with Raynaud's disease had normal skin biopsies. The scleroderma neck sign appears to be produced by scleroderma changes in the skin of the neck. In limited or early scleroderma where these changes are otherwise clinically inapparent, the scleroderma neck sign may be diagnostically useful.

Adult↗

[Symmetrical lividity of the fingers].

Symmetric lividity of the soles of the feet was first reported in two children in 1925 by Pernet. The characteristic manifestation of this dermatosis consisted in hyperkeratosis and hyperhidrosis with livid discoloration of the pressure areas of the soles. Later the same name was applied to a similar dermatosis in which the hyperkeratotic and hyperhidrotic patches of skin on the soles had a whitish grey discoloration and the livid color, if present at all, was seen only over the marginal areas not affected by the keratosis. Similar livid keratoses affecting the palmar sides of the fingers have been seen only occasionally. The 17-year-old girl presented in this paper had a 11-year history of emotional hyperhidrosis and is a rare illustration of symmetrical lividity in its original form, localized to the fingers only.

Adolescent↗

Autofluorescence of clofazimine in discoid lupus erythematosus.

A 70-year-old woman developed dark reddish blue pigmentation in scarred areas of discoid lupus erythematosus after taking clofazimine intermittently over a period of 10 years. Although light microscopy of routinely processed tissue failed to define the cause of the pigment, fluorescent microscopy showed vivid red deposits concentrated around larger vessels within the dermis. These deposits were shown to correspond to birefringent red clofazimine crystals on fresh frozen sections. Although the hyperpigmentation may clinically resemble melanin, biopsy specimens from our patient revealed a loss of melanin pigment in lesional skin, suggesting a primary role for clofazimine in producing the color changes observed.

Aged↗

Necrotizing lymphocytic folliculitis: the early lesion of acne necrotica (varioliformis).

Skin biopsy specimens from four patients who had recurrent bouts of lesions conforming to the clinical description of acne necrotica were studied. The pathologic findings were dominated by lymphocytic inflammation around centrally placed follicles evolving to follicular necrosis that extended to the perifollicular epidermis and dermis. Early lesions showed the development of multiple individual necrotic keratinocytes within the follicular sheath and adjacent epidermis with lymphocytic exocytosis. Later lesions showed more intense necrosis and scale crust obscuring the central target but were still dominated by a peripheral lymphocytic infiltrate. The early pathologic findings of acne necrotica (varioliformis) are represented by a necrotizing lymphocytic folliculitis and differ from the pattern seen in association with nonspecific excoriations, acute bacterial folliculitis, classic comedogenic acne, or acnitis.

Acne Vulgaris↗