51/267. Perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens successfully controlled with topical isotretinoin. Perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens (or dissecting folliculitis of the scalp or dissecting cellulitis of the scalp or dissecting perifolliculitis of the scalp) is a rare entity and constitutes the equivalent over the scalp, of hidradenitis suppurativa and acne conglobata. Etiologic factors are unknown. diagnosis is proven histologically. Management is very difficult and consists in systemic administration or intralesional injection of several drugs or in surgical manipulations. An 18 year-old white patient with cystic infiltrations, alopecia plaques, pustules and other inflammatory elements (clinicohistological features consistent with dissecting folliculitis of the scalp), is presented. isotretinoin topical application assured successful control of the disease and averted the evolution of the clinical aspect to scarring alopecia and nodule formation. Topical isotretinoin exercises a curative, inhibitory and antiproliferative action, in perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens. ( info) |
52/267. Tufted hair folliculitis associated with pemphigus vulgaris. Tufted hair folliculitis (THF) is a rare disease which is characterized by the emergence of multiple hairs from widely dilated follicular orifices surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate resulting in scarring alopecia. The pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Although colonization with staphylococcus aureus could not always be detected and systemic treatment with antibiotics alone is not sufficient, this microorganism is considered to play an important role. Around 30 patients with THF have been reported since the first publication. We present a patient with pemphigus vulgaris who developed THF. To our knowledge, this is the fourth case with an association of these two entities. Amongst other causing mechanisms, the autoimmune reaction may play an important role for the development of THF. ( info) |
53/267. Massive exophytic abscesses and fibrotic masses of the chin: a variant of the follicular occlusion triad. We present a patient with an extensive cluster of exophytic nodules that developed on his chin. These nodules consisted of abscesses and fibrotic areas. Lesion morphology, histology, and microbiology support a follicular occlusion triad entity. However, the distribution is striking and does not fit the entities described in the triad. We present the case to show that follicular occlusion was the inciting factor in our patient's eruption and to broaden our concept of clinical manifestations that can arise from this pathologic process. ( info) |
54/267. Focal and generalized folliculitis following smallpox vaccination among vaccinia-naive recipients. CONTEXT: With the reintroduction of smallpox vaccination, detailed contemporary descriptions of adverse reactions to the vaccine are needed to adequately inform the public and clinicians. During a multicenter, randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of various dilutions of smallpox vaccine, we observed the appearance of a papulovesicular eruption (focal and generalized) in study volunteers. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the papulovesicular eruptions by clinical, virologic, and histopathological characteristics. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective case series of papulovesicular eruptions following smallpox vaccination in healthy, vaccinia-naive adult participants compared with noncases conducted from October 2002 to March 2003. Variables potentially related to these eruptions were collected retrospectively through chart review. Eruptions were described based on viral culture, clinical examination, and histopathological evaluation (1 biopsy specimen from 1 case). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cases of papulovesicular eruptions following vaccination. RESULTS: During the trial, of 148 volunteers (56% women; mean age 23.6 years), 4 participants (2.7%) developed generalized eruptions and 11 (7.4%) noted focal eruptions. Viral cultures of sample lesions were negative for vaccinia. The result of a skin biopsy sample from 1 case of generalized rash revealed suppurative folliculitis without evidence of viral infection. All lesions resolved without scarring. In the cohort, cases and noncases did not show significant differences in terms of sex, in the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral or depo contraceptives, in medication allergies, in the incidence of fever or lymphadenopathy after vaccination, or in the dilution of vaccine received. CONCLUSIONS: folliculitis is a common and benign eruption observed in vaccinia-naive adult volunteers following smallpox vaccination. This eruption may be seen in volunteers receiving the vaccine in the newly instituted vaccination programs and may be met with heightened anxiety, potentially being confused with generalized vaccinia. This description of folliculitis using clinical, virologic, and histopathological findings should allay these concerns and provide additional insight into this eruption. ( info) |
55/267. Two cases of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis associated with parasitic infestations. Two patients presented with papular eruptions that could not be diagnosed clinically. Biopsies of these lesions showed eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF). Both cases were subsequently found to have infestations: one as a result of cutaneous larva migrans was successfully treated with ivermectin and the other caused by scabies mites was successfully treated with topical pyrethrin. The two cases of EPF presented emphasize the need for careful clinicopathological correlation to determine the cause. ( info) |
56/267. The role of radiation treatment in the management of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis. We are reporting a rare chronic irritating, incapacitating skin condition that can be controlled by radiation treatment. We would like to add this case to the world literature. ( info) |
57/267. Actinic superficial folliculitis. Actinic superficial folliculitis was first described in 1985, and since then only three reports have been published. Clinically and histopathologically this disease is very particular and has been suggested to be considered as an entity. We report on a 30-year-old man who presented with an extensive superficial follicular pustulosis on his back, shoulders and upper chest after exposure to intense heat and subsequent sweating on a sunny day. The pustules arose within 24-36 h afterwards. histology and immunohistochemistry revealed subcorneal pustules, suppurative folliculitis and an infiltrate consisting of T cells, macrophages and neutrophils around the hair follicle, sebaceous glands and small vessels. To the best of our knowledge this is the fourth report on actinic superficial folliculitis and the first on which a characterization of the inflammatory infiltrate has been performed. Because of the impressive, unique symptoms and the characteristic histology we agree with those who have suggested that actinic superficial folliculitis is a new entity. ( info) |
58/267. Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis in an hiv-positive man: response to cetirizine. Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis is a rare condition which is being increasingly reported in hiv-positive patients. Many therapies have been used to treat this condition. We report the first successful use of the H1 antihistamine cetirizine to treat the condition and postulate that the specific antieosinophilic action of this drug may explain the beneficial clinical effect seen in our patient. ( info) |
59/267. Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (Ofuji's disease) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The authors report the third case of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) associated with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The dermatosis occurred after an autologous bone marrow transplantation performed as treatment for the lymphoproliferative disorder. Although EPF was initially described as an idiopathic disease, the association of some cases with immunologic alterations or diseases, such as immunodeficiencies, suggests a possible immunopathologic event in the pathogenesis of EPF. ( info) |
60/267. Dissecting folliculitis of the scalp. A case report of combined treatment using tissue expansion, radical excision, and isotretinoin. Dissecting folliculitis of the scalp can develop into an extensive, hypertrophic scarred lesion that is unresponsive to routine treatment. In these situations, radical excision of the affected area and concurrent perioperative treatment with isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) may be effective. The authors describe a case, illustrating the successful clinical application of this technique. ( info) |