Localized vitiligo successfully treated with cream-psoralen + ultraviolet A.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Gambichler.
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Neurofibromatosis is a neuroectodermal systemic disease. A rare variant of this condition is bilateral segmental neurofibromatosis. A 29-year-old man presented with bilateral papillomatous plaques in the lumbar dermatomes. Clinically, the lesions were very similar to an epidermal nevus but histologic examination revealed superficial neurofibromas. Family history, ophthalmologic and neurologic investigations were unremarkable. The unusual morphologic presentation of bilateral segmental neurofibromas in this case points to the wide clinical spectrum of the disease and the significance of histologic examination in systematic nevoid lesions.
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We report a 13-year-old boy suffering from severe ichthyosis linearis circumflexa. Evidence of hair shaft abnormalities and impaired immunity could not be found. The patient was treated with salt water baths and artificial UVB radiation (balneophototherapy) 3-5 times weekly. After 40 treatments with balneophototherapy the skin lesions were almost completely cleared and maintenance UVB monotherapy was performed twice weekly for 2 months. After 4 months, however, the disease relapsed. Balneophototherapy presents a potentially effective and well tolerated phototherapeutic option for ichthyosis linearis circumflexa. As only short periods of remission may be expected, intermittent balneophototherapy would be probably necessary to control the disease.
BACKGROUND: Shave excision is an established surgical method for removing benign skin lesions for cosmetic and functional reasons. Usually superficial shave excision is performed with a common scalpel blade for the removal of papular nevi. However, there is little known about deep shave excision of macular melanocytic nevi with the razor blade technique. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cosmetic outcome of deep shave excision of macular melanocytic nevi with the razor blade technique. Moreover, its potency for sufficient removal of these lesions was investigated. METHODS: Within routine skin cancer screening 45 outpatients with a total of 77 macular melanocytic nevi were prospectively recruited. Deep shave excisions of these lesions were performed with a double-edged razor blade followed by chemical hemostasis. Histologically all specimens were processed and evaluated in a routine manner. After 6 months the physician and patients evaluated the shave sites for cosmetic outcome with a score graded from 1 to 4 (1 = excellent; 2 = good; 3 = moderate; 4 = poor). RESULTS: Histologically 88% (68 of 77) of the melanocytic lesions were described as completely excised and 60% (46 of 77) were diagnosed as atypical melanocytic nevi; 12% (9 of 77) of the nevi were incompletely excised on the depth. On average, the deep margin of the specimens (n = 77) was 0.5 mm (range 0-1.8 mm) and the lateral margin was 2 mm (range 0.3-8.2 mm). After 6 months 56 shave sites could be reassessed. We observed mild hypopigmentation in 52% (29 of 56), hyperpigmentation in 32% (18 of 56), and erythema in 23% (13 of 56). Recurrent nevi occurred in 13% (7 of 56). The evaluation of the cosmetic outcome by the patients (mean score 1.7) achieved better results than the evaluation by the physician (mean score 2.5). The cosmetic results showed no significant (P >.05) differences in various anatomic sites. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that deep razor blade excision presents a highly useful and inexpensive method for the removal of macular melanocytic nevi that yields adequate specimens for pathologic interpretation. We consider that shave excision with the razor blade technique is potentially much less scarring than full-thickness scalpel excisions of nevi. In particular, this is of great significance for patients with multiple nevi, such as dysplastic nevi syndrome.
BACKGROUND: One of the most important elements in the prevention of skin cancer is the use of comfortable UV-protective clothing. Owing to their low weight, cotton fabrics, and especially viscose fabrics made from filament yarns, are ideal for summer clothing and in fact enjoy a high degree of acceptance among consumers. Two methods are available for determining the UV protection factor (UPF) of textiles: the in vitro method is based on the spectrophotometric determination of the transmission of UV radiation through these fabrics; the in vivo method is based on the determination of the minimal erythema dose for a test subject with and without textiles. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess the UPF of lightweight cotton and viscose fabrics and whether the use of these two methods to determine the UPF of viscose fabrics and cotton fabrics produces congruent results. METHODS: We tested 7 different viscose fabrics and 7 different cotton fabrics. Three of the viscose fabrics (ENKA SUN) had been specially treated, by depositing pigments in the fibers, to confer UV-protective properties. The determination of the in vitro and in vivo UPF was performed with a spectrophotometer and sun simulator, respectively. RESULTS: The in vivo measurements on the untreated viscose fabrics produced UPF values lower than those obtained from the in vitro measurements. For one of these untreated viscose fabrics, the difference between the in vivo UPF and the in vitro UPF was statistically significant (P <.05). In contrast, the in vivo measurements on the specially treated viscose textiles and on the cotton fabrics resulted in UPF values higher than the in vitro UPF values. For one specially treated viscose fabric and 4 cotton fabrics, this difference was statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest, however, that-depending on the type of fabric-determination of the UPF by the in vitro method is not in agreement with the in vivo method. In vivo measurements made with lightweight specially treated UV-protective clothing showed in contrast to the untreated viscose fabrics that these garments offer very good protection against UV radiation. These results underscore the importance of developing and refining such UV-protective materials.
We describe a female patient with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome presenting with multiple, disfiguring papules on the cheeks, nose, and ears. In addition, there was evidence of photoaggravation and inflammatory processes in this case. The patient was treated with an erbium:YAG laser. Although the lesions could be successfully ablated up to the papillary dermis without scar formation, a relapse was observed after 6 months. Thus deeper laser ablations may possibly prevent relapses from dermal residual lesions.
BACKGROUND: Topical preparations such as emollients used in combination with phototherapy can interfere with such treatment. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the impact of vaseline on the ultraviolet (UV) transmission of non-irradiated split skin and on split skin previously exposed to UVB radiation. METHODS: Split-skin specimens were obtained from 20 patients. In each case, one sample was taken from an area of non-irradiated skin, while the second was taken from an area that had been previously exposed to UVB. The transmission was spectrophotometrically measured with split skin placed in specially designed quartz glass cuvettes before and after the application of two different amounts of vaseline (2.5 and 17.5 mg cm-2). RESULTS: Application of vaseline to skin previously exposed to UVB caused significant (P < 0.0001) changes in UV transmission in certain wavelength ranges. In the UVA range, a greater increase in transmission was achieved with 2.5 mg cm-2 vaseline, whereas in the UVB range, a greater increase was achieved with 17.5 mg cm-2 vaseline. The thicker the layer of vaseline applied, the lower was the difference in transmission between non-irradiated split skin and UVB-exposed split skin. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the correct amount of vaseline can enhance transmission in either the UVA or UVB range, and would enable dose reduction during a course of phototherapy.
BACKGROUND: The penetration of different wavelengths of UV radiation through human skin is of major importance, especially for the determination of photoprotective properties of sunscreens and UV-protective clothes. OBJECTIVE: In this study we present a new method for the measurement of UV transmission through small skin specimens. METHODS: The transmission measurements were performed by using a UV spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere operating in the wavelength range of 280-390 nm. For the skin samples, special quartz glass cuvettes were developed which allowed measurements for very thin and small skin specimens. Furthermore, the cuvettes prevented dehydration of the specimens and guaranteed, by using an additional diaphragm, that the transmission data were derived solely from the small skin specimen examined. Specimens measuring 8 x 3 mm(2) with a thickness of 0.3 mm (histometric and sonographic control) were taken from the thighs of 10 subjects via shave biopsy. RESULTS: In the UVA range (315-390 nm) we obtained a mean transmission of 4.6% and for the UVB range (280-315 nm) of 0.9%. No significant (p >0.14) difference of UV transmission was found between the individual skin specimens. CONCLUSION: This new method seems to be well suitable for UV transmission measurements of small skin specimens. As UVA radiation has a much deeper penetration depth and in in vivo situations dermal hemoglobin could have an effect on UV penetration, the present method is better suitable for the investigation of UVB-induced biological adaptation mechanisms and the impact of topical agents on UVB transmission of the epidermis.
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We report the case of a 38-year-old Caucasian female presenting asymptomatic plaques of fine wrinkling and perifollicular papular protrusions especially on the trunk. Histological examination evidenced loss of elastic fibers in the mid-dermis due to elastophagocytosis, with giant cells and granuloma formation. Moreover, elevated titers of thyroid autoantibodies were detected and thyroid ultrasound revealed echo-poor tissue. These findings met the diagnoses of mid-dermal elastolysis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This association has not been reported before. We present a comprehensive overview of the literature and discuss the pathogenetic aspects of mid-dermal elastolysis and the significance of the association with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Four patients suffering from small plaque parapsoriasis were treated successfully with balneophototherapy. Within 4 weeks salt-water baths and UV irradiation resulted in clinical clearing of more than 90% of lesions with a duration of total clinical response between 8 and 12 weeks without further maintenance treatment.