Our aim was to determine the frequency and nature of contact sensitivity in venous leg ulcer patients in Lanarkshire. We performed patch testing with the European standard series, antimicrobials and medicaments on 200 patients referred to our leg ulcer clinics. Positive patch tests were found in 136 (68%) patients. Multiple allergies occurred in 102 (51%). The most frequent allergen groups were fragrances (30.5%), antimicrobials (19.5%), topical excipients (19.5%), rubber accelerators (13.5%) and topical corticosteroids (8%). We also found a high prevalence of positive patch tests to Intrasite gel (9.5%) and Hioxyl cream (8.5%), medicaments which are commonly used to treat leg ulcers in our area. Contact sensitivity is common in venous leg ulcer patients and has important implications for patient management. The allergens involved vary depending on local nursing practice. We suggest that all venous leg ulcer patients be patch tested with a locally relevant patch test series.

Current guidelines recommend a thorough systemic workup in patients with newly diagnosed immunoglobulin amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis because of a close association with an underlying plasma cell proliferative disorder. Rarely, however, AL amyloidosis may present as a localized, benign disease without systemic involvement. Few previous reports have documented localized AL amyloid of the conjunctiva, and all these used immunohistochemistry for amyloid typing, which can be inaccurate. The authors identified 2 cases of AL amyloidosis confirmed by mass spectrometry localized to the conjunctiva and without evidence of systemic disease as determined by thorough systemic workup. Despite the very sensitive diagnostic technique of mass spectrometry, AL amyloidosis of the conjunctiva may not have an association with systemic plasma cell proliferative disorder. It is important to recognize conjunctiva as a site where localized amyloidosis can occur, even with the AL subtypes, as this entity usually exhibits a benign course and may be managed conservatively.

Aging changes to the lower eyelids and midface include pseudoherniated orbital fat, tear trough deformity, lid laxity, and dermatochalasis. Surgical repair often aims at treating redundant skin or orbital fat malposition with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Either a transcutaneous or transconjunctival approach may be used, though recent trends have favored the transconjunctival technique if procedures require more than simple skin excision. In manipulating the inferior orbital fat pads, a surgeon has many options including excision, repositioning, or augmentation with synthetic dermal filler, autologous fat grafts, or acellular dermal allografts. The authors review and detail indications, preoperative evaluation, techniques, and complications of lower lid blepharoplasty.

No abstract

Angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive, malignant endothelial neoplasm with a variable clinical presentation. The authors describe a case of angiosarcoma involving the eyelid that was complicated by a superimposed Enterobacter infection. Following positive cultures for E. aerogenes and multiple biopsies suspicious but not definitive for angiosarcoma, a final biopsy was consistent with angiosarcoma.