1/261. melanosis in association with metastatic malignant melanoma: report of a case and a unifying concept of pathogenesis.An unusual case of melanosis associated with metastatic malignant melanoma is reported. This was characterized by progressive blue/gray discoloration of the skin of the chest and abdomen in an elderly patient, 1 year after removal of a polypoid malignant melanoma from the right arm. A biopsy of involved skin revealed perivascular aggregates of melanin-laden histiocytes throughout the dermis, the histopathologic hallmark of melanosis. An unusual aspect of the case was the coincidental finding of a tumor embolus within a small dermal vessel, probably a lymphatic. To date, neoplastic melanocytes have been detected in only a small minority of skin biopsies with features of melanosis. This case and a distillation of related information in the literature lead to the conclusion that the essence of melanosis, and the feature that distinguishes this from conventional metastatic melanoma, is the persistent and cumulative dissemination of melanin, via the bloodstream, throughout the body. This in turn leads to progressive pigmentation of all internal organs and the skin. Only continuous access to the circulation by neoplastic melanocytes could explain such a phenomenon. Potential mechanisms by which this could arise are discussed in the context of existing knowledge.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/261. Reactive angioendotheliomatosis in an infant.Reactive cutaneous angioendotheliomatosis (RCA) is an uncommon benign disease characterized by intravascular proliferation of endothelial cells. The observation of RCA in infants is exceedingly rare. We describe a case of RCA in a 3-month-old infant. The lesions were characterized by six small purpuric papules (1-2 mm in diameter), distributed on the thighs and neck. The general condition of the patient was good, with no lymphadenopathy, systemic involvement, or fever. The histopathologic features of a papule were characterized by the presence of cohesive aggregates of large mononucleated cells protruding into the lumina of dilated vessels and filling some of them completely. Neither an inflammatory infiltrate nor a proliferation of pericytes were present around blood vessels. Intravascular proliferating cells demonstrated positive staining for ulex europaeus agglutinin 1 (UEA-1) and for factor viii-RA and CD34 antigens. The course of the disease was unremarkable with persistence of the lesions for 8 months; no treatment was started.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 13.697447990474keywords = blood vessel, vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/261. Inflammatory metastatic melanoma.An 87-year-old woman developed erythema, induration and tenderness of the skin overlying each breast. One year before, she had undergone an axillary lymph node dissection because of metastases from melanoma. The primary site was unknown. A skin biopsy showed pigmented tumor nests within the dermal lymphatic vessels, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the melanocytic origin. The diagnosis of inflammatory metastatic melanoma was made.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/261. Multiple piloleiomyomas associated with solitary angioleiomyoma.A 58 year-old male had reddish scattered papules strictly confined to the right side of his upper back and neck, right shoulder, and right upper arm. Additionally, he also noticed a subcutaneous nodule on his left thigh. Histopathological examinations revealed that the papules on the back, nape of the neck, shoulder, and arm were multiple piloleiomyomas, as shown by the proliferation of bundles of smooth muscles in the dermis. The subcutaneous nodule of the thigh was angioleiomyoma with a well-circumscribed lesion composed of smooth muscles and blood vessels. Ipsilaterality and segmentality of the distribution of the papules of piloleiomyomas and probable family history that his mother had similar papules with a similar distribution suggest the nevoid character of our case. Piloleiomyomas are often reported to be associated with leiomyoma of the uterus or other organs. This is the first reported case of multiple piloleiomyomas with solitary angioleiomyoma in the literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.697447990474keywords = blood vessel, vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/261. Cutaneous granulocytic sarcoma mimicking immunoblastic large cell lymphoma.A peculiar case of cutaneous granulocytic sarcoma without leukemic manifestation (so-called aleukemic leukemia cutis) that developed in the skin of the back of a 69-year-old man is reported. A skin biopsy specimen showed atypical cells with a prominent nucleolus proliferating around dermal blood vessels and along adnexa without epidermotropism. Atypical cells similar to those of the skin had infiltrated diffusely into the interfollicular area of an inguinal lymph node. Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical studies with a panel of monoclonal antibodies revealed neoplastic cells that had a biphasic phenotype of myeloid and T cell precursors. They expressed CD13, CD15, CD33, lysozyme, CD3epsilon, CD4, CD7 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Gene analysis showed no rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain or T cell receptor beta and gamma genes. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells exhibited a few intracytoplasmic electron-dense granules and well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum with an occasional whorling arrangement. The initial diagnosis was immunoblastic large cell lymphoma, and the patient was treated with six courses of ProMACE-CytaBOM. In spite of the high-grade cytological characteristics of this tumor, the patient has been free of disease for 5 years.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.697447990474keywords = blood vessel, vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/261. Targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma- a dynamic vascular tumor: report of 3 cases with episodic and cyclic changes and comparison with solitary angiokeratomas.BACKGROUND: Both targetoid hemosiderotic hemangiomas (THH) and solitary angiokeratomas (SAK) are acquired vascular malformations formed by superficial vascular ectasias possibly caused by trauma. OBJECTIVE: We compare the clinicopathologic findings of THHs with those of SAKs and report the clinicopathologic findings of 3 singular cases of THH affected by cyclic or episodic morphologic changes. methods: We performed a clinicopathologic study on 33 cases of THH and compared this group with 20 cases of SAK. On selected cases, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were evaluated. RESULTS: Overlap of all the clinical and pathologic features studied were identified for THH and SAK. Clinically, they both commonly exhibited a brown or black papule located over the lower extremities that mimicked a melanocytic lesion. Histologically, they both had ectatic papillary dermal vessels with overlying epidermal hyperplasia, and adjacent hemosiderin deposits, extravasated red blood cells, lymphocytic infiltrate, and lymphangiectases. Compared with SAKs, THHs were significantly larger (5.3 vs 3.2 mm), more often excised (elliptical excision) than shave or punch biopsied, and had deeper dermal vessel alterations, more frequent dissecting vascular spaces, and more extensive hemosiderin deposits (all P < .01). THHs presenting with episodic changes were significantly larger than those without (11 vs 4.4 mm, P =.001). CONCLUSION: THHs and SAKs differ in degree, not in type, of clinicopathologic characteristics. This finding suggests that THHs are larger variants of SAKs whose size is the cause of more extensive, prolonged, or recurrent vessel damage. The histologic findings of extravasated red blood cells, hemosiderin, telangiectases, lymphangiectases, and fibrosis implicate trauma in the cause of these acquired vascular malformations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/261. Angiofibroblastoma of the skin: a histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural report of two cases of an undescribed fibrous tumour.AIMS: The aim of this report is to present two cases of a distinct mesenchymal tumour of the skin that does not fit into one of the established entities. methods AND RESULTS: All cases of fibromyxoid tumours from the files of two dermatopathology centres, together with clinical data and histopathological records, were reviewed. Two cases of a lesion composed of stellate and spindle-shaped cells with the phenotype of fibroblasts embedded in a fibromyxoid to dense fibrous stroma were identified. Because of the large number of capillary-sized blood vessels and their peculiar distribution within the stroma, the name angiofibroblastoma of the skin is proposed for this peculiar neoplasm. In both cases, the tumour appeared as an indolent and slowly growing nodule on the extremities of adults. Immunohistochemical and, in one case, ultrastructural studies were performed. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of recurrences during a follow-up period of 9 and 3 years, respectively, after complete excision together with the bland histopathological appearance supports the benign character of the tumour.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.697447990474keywords = blood vessel, vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/261. Composite cervicofacial flap for reconstruction of complex cheek defects.The authors present the reconstructive technique for complex cheek defects using the composite cervicofacial flap and study the possibilities, advantages, disadvantages, and results that can be expected. The design follows the classic outline of Mustarde's flap. The skin is undermined for 2 cm anterior to the ear, then after incision of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), undermining is continued below the plane of the SMAS, level with the facial nerve branches. It is continued forward to the facial vessels, which give rise to branches that ensure the blood supply of this composite flap and contribute to its high reliability. In the cervical region, undermining is done beneath the platysma, which is transected transversely in the lower cervical region to allow good upward mobility and satisfactory transposition of the flap. The flap is adapted to the defect and the medial suture line is placed as near as possible to the medial limit of the cheek aesthetic unit. The authors carried out a retrospective study of 7 patients with complex facial reconstruction after excision of malignant lesions. The defects measured from 4x4 cm to 9x7 cm. In 4 patients excision included the periosteum, and in 1 patient excision involved the entire thickness and removed the entire anterior half of the cheek. In 4 patients reconstruction involved the cheek and eyelid. In spite of the advanced age of the patients (88, 69, 91, 67, 70, 82, and 59 years), there was no distal edge necrosis. The only complication was a single case of facial paresis, which resolved spontaneously. The results were considered very good in all 7 patients. The authors conclude that the composite flap increases the possibilities of the cervicofacial flap. It is more mobile, more reliable, thicker, and more adaptable. It can be used in complex cheek defects that involve the periosteum, or even in full-thickness defects. The quality of the results obtained using this flap represents a considerable advance in facial reconstruction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/261. Congenital multiple plaque-like glomangiomyoma.Congenital glomus tumor is a rare clinical variant of glomus tumor, and glomangiomyoma is the least frequent histologic type of glomus tumor. We report a case of congenital multiple plaque-like glomangiomyoma in a 38-year-old man with multiple nodules and plaques on his left arm and forearm. Histopathologic study showed an angiomatous, nonencapsulated tumor with numerous highly folded dilated vascular lumina scattered throughout the dermis. The lumina were lined by a single layer of flat endothelial cells, and one to several rows of glomus cells were observed adjacent to the endothelial cells. Around large vessels, there was a gradual transition from glomus cells to elongated mature smooth muscle cells with thin and long "blunt-ended" nuclei. Immunohistochemically, there were strong positive reactions for cytoplasmic alpha-smooth muscle actin in glomus cells and smooth muscle cells, vimentin in glomus cells and endothelial cells, and desmin in the smooth muscle cells only. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of congenital multiple plaque-like glomus tumor with the microscopic appearance of a glomangiomyoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/261. Two modifications of the radial forearm flap for reconstruction of complex facial defects.The free radial forearm flap has been one of the most common free flaps of recent decades. This flap is employed predominantly in head and neck reconstruction. The possibility of combining bone, muscle, and nerves with the fasciocutaneous flap greatly enhanced reconstructive options. However, the frequently unsightly donor site and the development of other readily available free flaps have led to a decline in the use of the radial forearm flap. Nevertheless, for reconstruction in head and neck surgery, with the need for thin, pliable tissues and a long vascular pedicle, the radial forearm flap still remains a prime choice. Two modifications of the standard forearm flap are presented. The first patient had two large defects at the nose and mental area after radical resection of a basal-cell carcinoma. Soft-tissue reconstruction was achieved with a conventional forearm flap and a second additional skin island based on a perforator vessel originating proximally from the pedicle. Both skin islands were independently mobile and could be sutured tension-free into the defects after tunneling through the cheek, with vascular anastomosis to the facial vessels. The second patient required additional volume to fill the orbital cavity after enucleation of the eye due to an ulcerating basal-cell carcinoma. In this case, the body of the flexor carpi radialis muscle was included in the skin flap to fill the defect. The skin island was used to reconstruct the major soft-tissue defect.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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