Abstract Background Nail involvement is frequent in patients with psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and there is a relationship between nail involvement and inflammation of the enthesis. The main objective of the present study is to describe the ultrasound findings and clinical characteristics of nails from patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with and without nail dystrophy. Methods A cross-sectional study including consecutive patients with PsO and PsA was carried out. The study patients were divided into 4 groups, totaling 120 participants. Group 1: patients with psoriasis vulgaris and clinically normal nails; Group 2: patients with psoriasis vulgaris and onychodystrophy; Group 3: patients with psoriatic arthritis and clinically normal nails; Group 4: patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychodystrophy; All patients were submitted to dermatological and rheumatological clinical analysis. Ultrasound examinations was performed by a single examiner, blinded to all clinical data, with ultrasound high resolution, in B-mode or gray-scale (GS), Power Doppler (PD) and Spectral Doppler. Results A significant difference was found between the groups regarding the variable Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (p = 0.008) and body surface area (BSA) (p = 0.005), with patients with psoriatic arthritis having lower PASI and BSA compared to patients with only cutaneous psoriasis. A positive relationship was found with the average ultrasound thickness of the nail bed and the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) in correlation analysis (rho = 0.344). When we grouped patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, there was no significant difference between the cutaneous psoriasis groups and the psoriatic arthritis groups in terms of nail plate GS (p = 0.442), nail bed PD (p = 0.124). Conclusion Greater nail bed thickness indicates early psoriatic nail disease, as confirmed in our study correlating NAPSI with nail bed thickness. Ultrasonography is a low-cost exam, promising in the evaluation, showing that the ultrasound grayscale is consistent with those who have dystrophic nails, but it can't distinguish psoriasis from psoriatic arthritis, even in those with nail dystrophy. Pso (Pso (PsA enthesis dystrophy crosssectional cross sectional out 12 participants 1 2 onychodystrophy 3 examiner data resolution Bmode B mode gray scale GS, , (GS) (PD (PASI p 0.008 0008 0 008 (BSA 0.005, 0005 0.005 005 0.005) (NAPSI rho 0.344. 0344 0.344 . 344 0.344) 0.442, 0442 0.442 442 0.442) 0.124. 0124 0.124 124 0.124) disease lowcost low cost exam evaluation cant can t (GS 0.00 000 00 034 0.34 34 044 0.44 44 012 0.12 0.0 03 0.3 04 0.4 01 0.1 0.

Abstract Background: The treatment of basal cell carcinoma depends on its histological subtype. Therefore, a biopsy should be performed before definitive treatment. However, as the biopsy is only a sample of the tumor, it does not always shows every histological subtype present in the neoplasm. Few studies have compared the histological findings of biopsies with the findings of Mohs micrographic surgery. By evaluating the totality of the peripheral margins, in addition to sampling large tumor areas, this technique provides a more representative amount of tissue than preoperative biopsy. Objectives: a) Determine the agreement between the histological subtype of basal cell carcinoma from punch biopsy and the findings of Mohs surgery; b) To assess, among the discordant cases, the prevalence of non-aggressive tumors in the preoperative biopsy that were reclassified as aggressive by Mohs surgery. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 79 cases of basal cell carcinomas submitted to punch biopsy and subsequent Mohs surgery. Results: The agreement between the classification of the subtypes in the biopsy and in Mohs surgery was 40.5%. Punch biopsy was able to predict the most aggressive basal cell carcinoma growth pattern in 83% of cases. Study limitations: Retrospective nature, sample size, and biopsies performed by different professionals. Conclusions: The agreement between the histopathological subtypes of basal cell carcinoma as seen in preoperative biopsy and Mohs surgery was low. However, preoperative biopsy presented good accuracy (83%) in detecting aggressive histopathological subtypes.

Abstract: Background: Of all nail disorders seen in dermatology offices, half of them are due to onychomycosis. The main differential diagnosis is nail psoriasis. The objective of this study was to compare the microscopic findings, other than the presence of fungi, in the clipping of onychomycosis versus normal nails and nail psoriasis. Methods: Cross-sectional study of onychomycosis cases, analyzed by clipping and compared with data on normal nails and those with nail psoriasis. Results: Sixty-two onychomycosis samples were compared with 30 normal nails and 50 nails with psoriasis. In onychomycosis, measurement of subungual region, serous lakes, neutrophils and number of layers of parakeratosis are more intense than in psoriasis. Onychocariosis is less common in psoriasis, while bacteria are more frequent. The nail transition zone is more commonly blurred and irregular in onychomycosis. Conclusion: Clipping helps in the differential diagnosis of onychomycosis and nail psoriasis and may be useful even when fungi are not found.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The nail involvement in psoriasis is related to psoriatic arthritis and may represent a predictor of the disease. OBJECTIVES: To analyze, through nail clipping, clinically normal and dystrophic nails of patients with cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional multicenter study, conducted between August 2011 and March 2012. Patients were divided into four groups: patients with cutaneous psoriasis and onychodystrophy, patients with cutaneous psoriasis and clinically normal nails, patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychodystrophy and patients with psoriatic arthritis and clinically normal nails. We calculated NAPSI (Nail Psoriasis Severity Index) of the nail with more clinically noticeable change. After collection and preparation of the nail clipping, the following microscopic parameters were evaluated: thickness of the nail plate and subungual region, presence or absence of parakeratosis, serous lakes, blood, and fungi. RESULTS: There were more layers of parakeratosis (p=0.001) and a greater thickness of the subungual region in patients with cutaneous psoriasis and onychodystrophy (p=0.002). Serous lakes were also more present in the same group (p=0.008) and in patients with psoriatic arthritis and normal nails (p=0.047). The other microscopic parameters showed no significant difference between normal and dystrophic nails or between patients with psoriatic arthritis or cutaneous psoriasis. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and use of medications. CONCLUSIONS: Nail clipping is a simple and quick method to assess the nails of patients with nail psoriasis although does not demonstrate difference between those with joint changes or exclusively cutaneous psoriasis.

Abstract Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a variant of lichen planopilaris with marginal progressive hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows and axillae. We report a case of frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus in a postmenopausal woman, that started with alopecia on the eyebrows and then on the frontoparietal region, with periocular and cervical hyperpigmentation of difficult management. The condition was controlled with systemic corticosteroid therapy and finasteride. Lichen planus pigmentosus is an uncommon variant of lichen planus frequently associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia in darker phototipes. It should be considered in patients affected by scarring alopecia with a pattern of lichen planopilaris and areas of skin hyperpigmentation revealing perifollicular hyperpigmentation refractory to multiple treatments. This case illustrates diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in face of scarring alopecia and perifollicular hyperpigmentation.

RESUMO Pacientes portadores de doença de Crohn podem apresentar manifestações extraintestinais, inclusive cutâneas, cuja frequência varia de 2% a 34%. A doença de Crohn metastática cutânea é considerada manifestação específica e rara, visto que apresenta à histopatologia padrão granulomatoso com as mesmas características da condição intestinal subjacente. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar dois casos de doença de Crohn metastática cutânea confirmados por análise histopatológica, após exclusão de outras doenças granulomatosas da pele. Caso 1: Mulher adulta com placas eritematodescamativas pruriginosas disseminadas em membros superiores. Caso 2: Homem adulto com placa hipercrômica acinzentada e infiltrada em nádega esquerda.

ABSTRACT Patients with Crohn's disease may show extraintestinal manifestations, including cutaneous, whose frequency ranges from 2% to 34%. Metastatic cutaneous Crohn's disease is considered a specific and rare manifestation, since the histopathology reveals granulomatous pattern with the same characteristics of the underlying bowel condition. The objective of this study is to report two cases of metastatic cutaneous Crohn's disease confirmed by histopathologic analysis, after excluding other granulomatous skin diseases. Case 1: Adult woman with pruritic erythematous scaly plaques disseminated on the upper limbs. Case 2: Adult man with grayish hyperchromic plaque infiltrated on the left buttock.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Permanent alopecia after bone marrow transplantation is rare, but more and more cases have been described, typically involving high doses of chemotherapeutic agents used in the conditioning regimen for the transplant. Busulfan, classically described in cases of irreversible alopecia, remains associated in recent cases. The pathogenesis involved in hair loss is not clear and there are few studies available. In addition to chemotherapeutic agents, another factor that has been implicated as a cause is chronic graft-versus-host disease. However, there are no histopathological criteria for defining this diagnosis yet. OBJECTIVE: the study aims to evaluate clinical and histological aspects in cases of permanent alopecia after bone marrow transplantation, identifying features of permanent alopecia induced by myeloablative chemotherapy and alopecia as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. METHODS: data were collected from medical records of 7 patients, with description of the clinical features and review of slides and paraffin blocks of biopsies. RESULTS: Two distinct histological patterns were found: one similar to androgenetic alopecia, non-scarring pattern, and other similar to lichen planopilaris, scarring alopecia. CONCLUSION: The first pattern corroborates the literature cases of permanent alopecia induced by chemotherapeutic agents, and the second is compatible with manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease on scalp, that has never been described yet. The results contribute to the elucidation of the factors involved in these cases, including the development of therapeutic methods

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico pode apresentar inúmeras lesões cutâneas. As lesões bolhosas específicas do lúpus, apesar de raras, apresentam características clínicas e imunopatológicas próprias e implicam em diagnóstico diferencial entre inúmeras patologias bolhosas que podem sobrepor-se ao lúpus eritematoso sistêmico. Apresenta-se um caso de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico bolhoso em gestante.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause numerous skin lesions. Despite being rare, lupus-specific bullous lesions demonstrate characteristic clinical and immunopathological features and require differential diagnosis among numerous bullous conditions that may overlap with SLE. The present study presents a case of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) in a pregnant woman.

A alopecia difusa tem como principais causas eflúvio telógeno, alopecia androgenética difusa (alopecia androgenética de padrão feminino) e alopecia areata difusa. Em muitas ocasiões o diagnóstico diferencial entre as três entidades é difícil. Na segunda parte deste artigo se discute em mais detalhes as características clínicas, dermatoscópicas e histológicas do eflúvio telógeno crônico e da alopecia areata difusa. Uma maneira prática e objetiva de abordagem diagnóstica da alopecia difusa é apresentada através de um fluxograma.

Diffuse alopecia is mainly caused by telogen effluvium, diffuse androgenetic alopecia (femalepattern hair loss) and diffuse alopecia areata. Differential diagnosis between the three disorders may be difficult in several occasions. In this second part of our study, chronic telogen effluvium and diffuse alopecia areata are discussed in detail, including clinical, dermoscopic and histological aspects. A flowchart presents a practical and objective differential diagnostic approach to diffuse alopecia.

Mucormicose é uma infecção fúngica incomum causada por Mucorales. Ocorre frequentemente em pacientes com neutropenia, diabetes, corticoterapia e condições malignas. Porém, é rara em pacientes com AIDS. A doença pode apresentar-se em diferentes formas. Este caso ilustra a rara ocorrência de mucormicose e cromoblastomicose em um paciente com hanseníase multibacilar, que estava sendo tratado com prednisona e talidomida devido a eritema nodoso (reação hansênica tipo II). Disfunção de neutrófilos, uso de talidomida e atividades profissionais são alguns fatores de risco neste caso. A cromoblastomicose foi tratada por excisão cirúrgica e a mucormicose com anfotericina B. Embora o prognóstico da mucormicose seja ruim, neste caso o tratamento foi bem sucedido. Este caso alerta dermatologistas para a possibilidade de infecções oportunistas em pacientes imunossuprimidos.

Mucormycosis is an uncommon fungal infection caused by Mucorales. It frequently occurs in patients with neutropenia, diabetes, malignancy and on corticoid therapy. However, it is rare in patients with AIDS. Clinical disease can be manifested in several forms. The case reported illustrates the rare occurrence of chromoblastomycosis and mucormycosis in an immunosuppressed patient with multibacillary leprosy, under prolonged corticosteroid and thalidomide therapy to control leprosy type 2 reaction. Neutrophil dysfunction, thalidomide therapy and work activities are some of the risk factors in this case. Chromoblastomycosis was treated by surgical excision and mucormycosis with amphotericin B. Although the prognosis of mucormycosis is generally poor, in the reported case the patient recovered successfully. This case should alert dermatologists to possible opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients.

Alopecia androgenética difusa (alopecia de padrão feminino), eflúvio telógeno e alopecia areata difusa podem ter apresentações clínicas similares. Detalhes sutis no exame físico e na dermatoscopia do couro cabeludo podem ser úteis no diagnóstico diferencial e interferir na conduta e resultados terapêuticos. Os autores apresentam uma discussão prática de como abordar a paciente com alopecia difusa considerando dados da história clínica, exame físico e dermatoscópico. Quando a dúvida persistir após uma análise cuidadosa dos aspectos clínicos, uma biópsia de couro cabeludo pode permitir a distinção entre as três doenças. Nesta primeira parte, a alopecia androgenética de padrão feminino é abordada em maior detalhe e se faz uma revisão objetiva das principais alterações microscópicas observadas.

Diffuse androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss), telogen effluvium, and diffuse alopecia areata may have similar clinical manifestations. Subtle details on physical examination and dermoscopy of the scalp may help to identify those disorders. The authors present a practical discussion on how to approach the patient with diffuse alopecia, considering clinical history, physical examination, and dermoscopic findings. If the diagnosis remains unclear after a careful analysis of the clinical signs, a scalp biopsy may help to distinguish between the three diseases. In this first part of our study, an objective review of female androgenetic alopecia is presented and the most important histological changes are discussed.

O fibroxantoma atípico é um tipo de neoplasia cutânea maligna rara, encontrado principalmente em idosos, em áreas fotoexpostas. Na histologia, o fibroxantoma atípico é uma neoplasia fibro-histiocítica dérmica, de células fusiformes e epitelioides, algumas vezes bizarras, com acentuado pleomorfismo, apresentando núcleos hipercromáticos e mitoses abundantes. Deve ser diferenciado de outros tumores de pele, principalmente através da imunoistoquímica, já que seu diagnóstico é de exclusão.

Atypical fibroxanthoma is a rare cutaneous tumor found mainly in elderly people on sun-exposed areas of the body. Histologically, atypical fibroxanthoma is considered a malignant fibrous histiocytoma with bizarre neoplastic cells, marked pleomorphism, hyperchromatic nuclei and abundant mitoses. It must be differentiated from other skin tumors, usually by immunohistochemistry, since its diagnosis is made by exclusion.

FUNDAMENTOS: instrumentos de avaliação da psoríase ungueal têm sido publicados na literatura como meio de padronizar as avaliações antigamente subjetivas dos autores. OBJETIVOS: utilizar índice de Gravidade da Psoríase Ungueal ou Nail Psoriasis Severity Index para avaliação em pacientes portadores de psoríase em placas durante o tratamento com acitretina. MÉTODOS: trinta voluntários portadores de psoríase em placas foram selecionados para o estudo. Vinte deles ( 8 mulheres e 12 homens) completaram o estudo. A dose inicial da acitretina foi de 0,3mg/kg/dia por 30 dias sendo elevado posteriormente para 0,5mg/kg/dia. Utilizou-se a avaliação do Nail Psoriasis Severity Index na primeira avaliação, após 2 e 4 meses avaliando-se as unhas de ambas as mãos. RESULTADOS: lesões de unhas estavam presentes em todos os pacientes na primeira avaliação. A mediana inicial do Nail Psoriasis Severity Index foi de 20 e o escore final 20,5 (2,5% de piora ao final do estudo), sem diferença estatística significativa entre as três (X2=08084, GL=2, p=0,6657). Sete pacientes pioraram no escore final. Três pacientes obtiveram melhora de 50% do Nail Psoriasis Severity Index inicial em relação ao final e apenas 1 obteve melhora de 75 . A correlação linear simples mostrou fraca associação entre a porcentagem de melhora do PASI e do Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (r=0,105, F=2,12, p=0,l62). CONCLUSÕES: o método se mostrou de fácil e de rápida execução, podendo trazer informações sobre as alterações de lâmina e matriz de um modo global. O Nail Psoriasis Severity Index não quantifica as lesões existentes isoladamente, podendo não ter a sensibilidade de detectar pequenas alterações.

BACKGROUND: assessment instruments of nail psoriasis have been published in literature as means to standardize the previous subjective assessments of authors. OBJECTIVES: Using Nail Psoriasis Severity Index for evaluation in patients with plaque psoriasis during treatment with acitretin. METHODS: Thirty volunteers with plaque psoriasis were selected for the study. Twenty patients (8 women and 12 men) completed the study. The initial dose of acitretin was 0.3 mg/kg/day for 30 days and was later raised to 0.5 mg/kg/day. Nail Psoriasis Severity Index was collected in the first evaluation, after 2 and 4 months. Nails of both hands were evaluated. RESULTS: nail lesions were present in all patients at first evaluation. The initial Nail Psoriasis Severity Index median was 20 and the final score 20.5 (2.5% of worsening at the end of the study). No statistically significant difference between the three evaluations was found (X2 = 0.8084, GL = 2, p = 0.6657). Seven patients worsened in the final score. Three patients improved 50% of the initial Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and only one had an improvement of 75%. Linear correlation showed a weak association between the improvement percentage in PASI and Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (r = 0.105, F = 2.12, p = 0.162). CONCLUSION: The method was easy and of rapid execution while potentially bringing information about changes in nail plate and matrix during treatment. The Nail Psoriasis Severity Index does not quantify the existing lesions and might not have the sensitivity to detect small changes.