Pigmented lesions of the nail unit are commonly encountered in the clinical setting. Yet, they often present a unique challenge to clinicians because of a broad differential diagnosis or unfamiliarity with clinical and histopathologic features. A wide variety of causes exist ranging from benign lesions such as subungual hemorrhage to malignant lesions such as subungual melanoma. Identifying the underlying cause is key to appropriate management and follow-up in these patients. Although emerging clinical tools such as dermoscopy can be very useful in evaluation of these lesions, histopathologic analysis remains the gold standard. In this review, we discuss and provide a summary of important clinical and histopathological concepts of pigmented lesions of the nail unit with special focus on longitudinal melanonychia, melanotic macule, melanocytic nevus, subungual melanoma, along with discussion of some nonmelanocytic lesions.
Background Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare and potentially life-threatening mucocutaneous reactions. Given their rarity, limited cohort studies have been done. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the demographics, etiology, management, clinical and laboratory characteristics, complications, and outcome of SJS/TEN patients seen by the inpatient dermatology service at the University of Puerto Rico. Methods A retrospective review of 30 cases with identified diagnosis of SJS, overlap SJS/ TEN, or TEN who were consulted to the Dermatology Department of the University of Puerto Rico from 2006 to 2017.Results A total of 24 adult and six pediatric cases were reviewed. Females were predominant with a female to male ratio of 1.3 : 1. The most frequent offending drugs identified were antibiotics (56.7%), anticonvulsants (23.3%), and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (16.7%) with the most frequent antibiotic identified being trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (23.3%). Seventy percent of patients experienced at least one complication, most often of infectious etiology (80.1%). During hospital course, 73% received pharmacologic therapy (23% received IVIG alone, 17% received steroids alone, and 33% both) versus 27% which received only supportive care. Mortality rate in this study was 13.8%. When comparing SCORTEN at day one of admission, deceased cases had a mean SCORTEN at day 1 of 4.0, while survivors had an average of 1.54 (P < 0.001).Conclusion Antibiotics followed by anticonvulsants were the most frequently offending drugs identified within this study.
Spitz nevus is a type of melanocytic nevus that can arise as a solitary lesion or as multiple lesions either disseminated or agminated (grouped) in different skin backgrounds (eg, grossly normal, hyperpigmented, or hypopigmented). Agminated Spitz nevi have been rarely reported and are even rarer in a background of hypopigmented skin. We present the case of a 2-month-old girl with multiple, grouped, dome-shaped, red papules arising on a hypopigmented patch with a segmental distribution. Biopsy of 2 lesions showed findings characteristic of Spitz nevus, confirming the diagnosis. We also review 4 other cases of agminated Spitz nevi arising on hypopigmented skin reported in the literature.
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