Because neither the histological pattern nor the type of tumor allows a differential diagnosis with neuroblastoma, we propose the descriptive term of rosetoid schwannoma. And to our knowledge, this will be the first case reported of rosetoid schwannoma associated to anetoderma.

Idiopathic plantar hidradenitis (IPH) is a recently described condition primarily affecting healthy children who develop tender lesions localized to the plantar or lateral aspects of the feet with histologic findings similar to those seen in neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH), although with certain notable exceptions including the absence of syringosquamous metaplasia and the presence, in most cases, of neutrophilic abscesses adjacent to eccrine coils. Since its original description, three additional patients have been reported, one with palmoplantar lesions, extending the disease's clinical spectrum to include palmar as well as plantar surfaces. We report on a healthy 8-year-old girl with tender, erythematous nodules on palms and soles and review the literature on this subject.

Nevus of Ota, also known as oculodermal melanocytosis, is a congenital pigmentary condition that can affect structures in the distribution of the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal cranial nerve. Malignant transformation, although rare, may occur within nevus of Ota and result in uveal, cutaneous, orbital or even dural melanoma. We present a new association of Nevus of Ota complicated with a giant orbital Blue Nevus in a young white male and the management of this tumor.

In a 4-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel study to compare the efficacy of cetirizine and astemizole, 47 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were enrolled, with 19 cetirizine- and 17 astemizole-treated patients being taken into account for final analysis. Both treatment groups were comparable at initial visit. Giant weals, weals, erythema and oedema were improved in both treatment groups after treatment for 1-4 weeks. Patients' evaluation using a visual analogue scale and symptom scores assessed on a four-point scale showed that the improvement was significantly better using cetirizine for weals (P = 0.04) and there was a trend (P = 0.09) in favour of cetirizine for the visual analogue scale. The number and severity of side-effects were similar in both treatment groups.

Squamous metaplasia in the skin has been reported in the eccrine ducts as eccrine squamous syringometaplasia (ESS). To our knowledge, squamous metaplasia of sebaceous gland (SMSG) has not been described in human skin. Twenty-two biopsy specimens from patients with pressure lesions after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation were evaluated for the presence of SMSG. Squamous metaplasia of sebaceous gland was identified in five of the eight scalp biopsies and none of the buttock biopsies. The squamous metaplasia began in the germinative outer layer and advanced in a centripetal way. We believe that SMSG is an unspecific change of the sebaceous cells secondary to a chronic injury. Ischemia appears to play a mayor role, but other factors such as chronic trauma or toxicosis can not be ruled out.