Subepidermal calcified nodule (SCN) is a form of calcinosis cutis that most commonly occurs in children. The typical clinical presentation is of a solitary verrucous nodule on the face, but occasionally multiple lesions may be seen. We describe SCN on the eyelids of two female patients; one of whom had four lesions. The histopathology was typical of calcinosis cutis. Both patients were in good health.

Grumach AS and Oliveira ZNP. Polarized light microscopy of hair shafts aids in the differential diagnosis of Chédiak-Higashi and Griscelli-Prunieras syndromes. Clinics. 2006;61(4):327-32. PURPOSE:To study and compare the appearance of hairs from patients with Chédiak-Higashi and Griscelli-Prunieras syndromes under light and polarized light microscopy. METHOD: Hairs from 2 Chédiak-Higashi and 2 Griscelli-Prunieras patients were obtained and examined under normal and polarized light microscopy. RESULTS: Under light microscopy, hairs from Chédiak-Higashi patients presented evenly distributed, regular melanin granules, larger than those seen in normal hairs. Under polarized light microscopy, shafts exhibited a bright and polychromatic refringence appearance. In contrast, hair from Griscelli-Prunieras patients, under light microscopy, exhibited bigger and irregular melanin granules, distributed mainly near the medulla. Under polarized light microscopy, shafts appeared monotonously white. CONCLUSION: Light microscopic examination of hair shafts of patients with Chédiak-Higashi or Griscelli-Prunieras syndrome reveals subtle differences that are useful in identifying both disorders, but not in distinguishing between them. We provide evidence that polarized light microscopy of hair shafts, an approach that has not been previously described, aids in differentiating between these syndromes. We propose hair study by polarized light microscopy as a helpful complementary diagnostic method for differential diagnosis between CHS and GPS, especially when the more sophisticated molecular studies are not available.

BACKGROUND -Chronic venous ulcers are extremely frequent and have a significant impact on quality of life and work productivity of individuals, in addition to high costs to public health. OBJECTIVES -Detection of arterial circulation alterations in chronic venous ulcer legs using a non-invasive method to discriminate patients not indicated to have compressive treatment. METHODS -Forty patients with chronic venous ulcers were investigated for the presence of peripheral arterial disease with measurement of the ankle/brachial index by Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS -The resting ankle/brachial pressure index was abnormal (lower than 1) in 9/22 (40.9%) patients with concomitant chronic venous ulcers and hypertension and only in one out of 13 (7.7%) patients with chronic venous ulcers and no hypertension. CONCLUSIONS -Patients with concomitant chronic venous ulcer and hypertension should be routinely evaluated with the ankle/brachial pressure index to detect a possible association with peripheral arterial disease. Keywords: Arterial occlusive diseases; Ultrasonography, doppler; Varicose ulcer Resumo: FUNDAMENTOS -As úlceras venosas dos membros inferiores são freqüentes e têm grande impacto na qualidade de vida e produtividade do indivíduo, além de alto custo para a saúde pública. OBJETIVOS -Detecção de alterações arteriais em pacientes de úlcera venosa crônica dos membros inferiores com emprego de método não invasivo, de modo a discriminar aqueles em que estaria contra-indicado o tratamento compressivo. MÉTODOS -Foram estudados

Olmsted syndrome is a rare variety of transgredient palmoplantar keratoderma with an undefined inheritance pattern. It starts in the neonatal period or in childhood and has a progressive and extremely disabling course. We report two new, unrelated patients with Olmsted syndrome, one with the early signs and symptoms of the disorder, the other showing the full-blown spectrum of the syndrome during a 30-year follow-up period.

Nevus lipomatosus superficialis is a rare disorder characterized by a nevoid fatty growth within the papillary and reticular dermis. Lesions more often occur in the sacral, abdominal, or pelvic regions. A 36-year-old Brazilian female with giant nevus lipomatosus is reported. Our case seems to be the biggest reported in the literature.