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We describe a 78-year-old woman with polycythaemia rubra vera who had multiple tiny follicular hyperkeratotic spicules on the cheeks. She was receiving treatment with oral hydroxyurea, but no topical agents had been applied to her face. Histopathological study demonstrated numerous Demodex folliculorum mites within dilated follicular infundibula, and we consider that the mites were playing a part in the aetiology of the skin lesions.

Extraocular sebaceous carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm usually localized on the head and neck. Sebaceous glands are abundant on the vulva, but vulvar sebaceous carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm. To our knowledge, there are only five previously reported cases of sebaceous carcinoma on this location. We report an additional case of vulvar sebaceous carcinoma associated with Bowen's disease in the overlying epidermis. The patient also had bowenoid papulosis involving the skin of labia majora. We analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Southern blot hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the presence of DNA of human papilloma viruses (HPVs) in the specimen of sebaceous carcinoma and in lesions of bowenoid papulosis. Immunohistochemistry, Southern blot hybridization, and PCR studies in specimens of bowenoid papulosis lesions and sebaceous carcinoma did not detect DNA of HPVs. A significant increase in intranuclear p53 staining was demonstrated in several areas of neoplastic aggregations of sebaceous carcinoma.

A pityriasis rubra pilaris-like eruption has been described in patients with dermatomyositis. These patients showed generalized follicular hyperkeratosis and diffuse thickening of the palms and soles. Histopathological findings consisted of keratotic plugging of the follicular infundibulum and features of erector pili myositis. We report on an 18-year-old woman with dermatomyositis. The diagnosis was established by characteristic enzymatic alterations, electromyographic pattern of myositis and the findings in a muscle biopsy, although the patient had no evidence of muscular weakness during a follow-up of 14 years. She developed an erythematosus and squamous eruption associated with diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma. Histopathological features consisted of a papillomatous epidermis with spicules of compact eosinophilic hyperkeratosis over the tips of papillae that were not related to hair follicles. Pityriasis rubra pilaris-like eruption seems to be a characteristic although uncommon cutaneous manifestation in dermatomyositis.