Left Thigh (leave + thigh)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Disseminated cutaneous Fusarium moniliforme infections in a leukemic child

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
Ching-Chi Chi MD
A 5-year-old boy had a 10-month remission of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) after chemotherapy. Re-induction chemotherapy was performed for relapse of ALL. Thereafter, he suffered from an episode of neutropenic fever with pneumonia. One week following control of the condition with antibiotics, a 1 × 1-cm, red, painful nodule appeared on the left thigh, which was initially suspected to be Pseudomonas infection. Parenteral ceftazidime and amikacin were administered, but persistent high fever, mild cough, and a few painful erythematous papulonodules on the face and lower extremities appeared several days later (Fig. 1). These lesions increased insidiously in diameter up to 2,5 cm with central necrosis. Hemogram showed neutropenia with a shift to the left [white blood cell (WBC) count, 2.1 × 109/L; neutrophil count, 0.21 × 109/L]. A skin biopsy showed heavy growth of hyaline branching septate hyphae in the deep dermis and subcutis, together with fat necrosis (Fig. 2). Invasion of molds into vessels and sweat glands was also seen. A culture from a lesion yielded Fusarium moniliforme, but no fungi were isolated from blood specimens. Only mild infiltrations on bilateral lower lung fields were detected by chest roentgenography. The skin lesions gradually healed and the fever subsided 2 weeks after the initiation of therapy with amphotericin B 30 mg and itraconazole 200 mg daily. Figure 1. A few painful erythematous papulonodules appeared on the face and lower extremities Figure 2. Skin biopsy showed heavy growth of hyaline branching septate hyphae in the deep dermis and subcutis along with fat necrosis (hematoxylin and eosin, ×400) Meanwhile, relapse of leukemia was detected by hemogram showing atypical leukocytosis (WBC count of 24,400 × 109/L, with blast cells representing 78%). A course of chemotherapy with cytarabine, mitoxantrone, and VP-16 was prescribed, subsequently resulting in neutropenia (WBC count, < 0.1 × 109/L; neutrophil count, 0/L) and spiking fever. Although the aforementioned antifungal therapy was continued, the centers of the originally healed lesions turned dusky red, swollen, necrotic, and ulcerative. There were more than 10 such ecthymiform lesions. After administration for 22 days, itraconazole was discontinued because of no appreciable effects. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) salvage was used, and the neutropenia gradually subsided 20 days later. In addition, the ecthymiform lesions gradually resolved. Amphotericin B was discontinued 1 week following neutrophil recovery. The patient died of Acinetobacter baumannii and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia sepsis 8 months later. [source]


Melanoma associated with a dermatofibroma

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
Bradley T. Kovach
Background:, Dermatofibromas are common benign cutaneous fibrohistiocytic neoplasms, whereas melanomas are potentially aggressive malignancies. Differentiating these two entities can occasionally be difficult. Methods:, We report the case of a 56-year-old female presenting with a firm pink papule on the left thigh. Results:, Histopathology revealed atypical melanocytes in the epidermis and papillary dermis with numerous mitotic figures and intraepidermal pagetoid spread. Within the dermis was a poorly demarcated collection of epithelioid and spindled cells with intermixed keloidal collagen. The atypical melanocytes stained for MART-1 and S-100, whereas the underlying fibrohistiocytic tumor took up factor XIIIa immunostain, confirming the diagnosis of invasive malignant melanoma occurring in association with a dermatofibroma. Conclusions:, This case emphasizes the role of immunohistochemical stains in correctly diagnosing melanocytic and histiocytic neoplasms. [source]


Reactions to Penicillamine: A Case of Cutis Laxa, Elastosis Perforans Serpiginosa and "Pseudo" Pseudoxanthoma

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
S. Frankel
This patient was a 61-year-old white female who received several years of penicillamine therapy for the treatment of cystinuria. She subsequently developed penicillamine induced cutis laxa, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, and pseudoxanthoma elasticum like skin lesions. In addition, she suffered from numerous chronic bilateral lower extremity skin ulcerations. Her past medical history was also significant for end stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis and pulmonary fibrosis. She presented to the University of Miami Wound Care Center in 1/04 for treatment of her chronic ulcerations. On physical examination, the patient had multiple large hyperpigmented plaques with central ulcerations on her lower extremities. Some of the ulcers had overlying crust and others were covered with yellow fibrinous tissue. She also had generalized thickened, lax skin with multiple folds. On her neck, thighs, back and arms were violaceous, atrophic, serpiginous plaques with peripheral crusted erosions. A biopsy taken from the patients left thigh revealed dermal elastosis and the features of pseudo-pseudoxanthoma. Two additional biopsies taken from the left thigh demonstrated elastosis perforans serpiginosa. This case highlights multiple skin manifestations of penicillamine therapy. [source]


Monocytic fasciitis: A newly recognized clinical feature of tumor necrosis factor receptor dysfunction

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 8 2002
Keith M. Hull
Tumor necrosis factor receptor,associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is a dominantly inherited autoinflammatory syndrome that results from mutations in TNFRSF1A, the gene that encodes the 55-kd tumor necrosis factor receptor. Clinically, patients present with recurrent episodes of fever in conjunction with localized inflammation at various sites. Myalgia is one of the most characteristic features of this syndrome and is frequently associated with an overlying erythematous, macular rash that, together with the myalgia, displays centrifugal migration. This has previously been believed to occur as a result of myositis. We describe herein the case of a 60-year-old man with TRAPS, in whom magnetic resonance imaging of the left thigh demonstrated edematous changes in the muscle compartments and surrounding soft tissues. A full-thickness wedge biopsy was performed, and hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry analysis of the specimen demonstrated normal myofibrils but a severely destructive monocytic fasciitis. These results suggest that the myalgia experienced by individuals with TRAPS is due to a monocytic fasciitis and not to myositis. [source]


Amoebiasis cutis: Clinical suspicion is the key to early diagnosis

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Ghanshyam K Verma
ABSTRACT Amoebiasis cutis is a rare manifestation of Entamoeba histolytica, primarily an intestinal pathogen, which occurs as a complication of amoebic dysentery. Primary cutaneous amoebiasis occurs from contamination of pre-existing wounds. A high degree of clinical suspicion and demonstration of trophozoites from lesions are important for making an early diagnosis lest these patients should suffer significant morbidity. A HIV-negative and otherwise healthy 40-year-old man presented with a well-defined, indurated, painful, progressively enlarging plaque with overlying ulcers and pus discharging sinuses involving buttocks, perianal/perineal area and part of the left thigh of 3 years' duration. A wide array of investigations was unhelpful but demonstration of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites in wet-drop preparation from the ulcer margin was diagnostic. The trophozoites were also visualized both in H&E and periodic acid Schiff-stained histological sections. Resolution of lesion was observed 2 weeks after treatment with oral metronidazole 800 mg three times a day and wound care. [source]