Background: Many variants of dermatofibromas have been described, and being aware of the variants of dermatofibromas is important to avoid misdiagnosis. Objective: We wanted to evaluate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of 122 cases of dermatofibromas. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and 122 biopsy specimens of 92 patients who were diagnosed with dermatofibroma in the Department of Dermatology at Eulji Hospital of Eulji University between January 2000 and March 2010. Results: Nearly 80% of the cases occurred between the ages of 20 and 49 years, with an overall predominance of females. Over 70% of the lesions were found on the extremities. The most common histologic variant was a fibrocollagenous dermatofibroma (40.1%). Other variants included histiocytic (13.1%), cellular (11.5%), aneurysmal (7.4%), angiomatous (6.5%), sclerotic (6.5%), monster (4.9%), palisading (1.6%) and keloidal dermatofibromas (0.8%). There were 9 dermatofibromas (7.3%) that were the mixed type with two co-dominant histologic features. Conclusion: The results of this study are consistent with previous reports on the clinical features of dermatofibromas. However, we observed several characteristic subtypes of dermatofibroma and we compared the frequency of the histologic subtypes.

BackgroundAcquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is histopathologically characterized by transepidermal elimination of materials from the upper dermis. APD can be divided into four diseases: Kyrle's disease, perforating folliculitis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, and reactive perforating collagenosis. APD is usually associated with systemic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus or chronic renal failure. So far, there have only been a few Korean studies of APD, which have a limited number of patients.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of 30 cases of APD and to examine the association with systemic diseases.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records and biopsy specimens of 30 patients who were diagnosed with APD.ResultsThe mean age was 55.5 years, and the average duration of the lesion was 7.8 months. The lower extremities (73.3%) were the most frequently occurring sites of the lesion. Twenty-five patients (83.3%) had pruritus, and Koebner's phenomenon was present in 11 patients. Patients of 63.3% had at least one systemic disease. Diabetes mellitus (n=17, 56.7%) and chronic renal failure (n=10, 33.3%) were the most commonly associated conditions. Most patients received topical steroids (93.3%) and antihistamines (80.0%). The most common histopathologic type was reactive perforating collagenosis (n=23, 73.3%).ConclusionIn this study, most patients had a systemic association to the diseases. Therefore, we suggest that further evaluation is necessary for patients who present with APD. This includes reviewing patient's comprehensive past medical history, clinical exam, and additional diagnostic testing to check for the possibility of associated systemic diseases.

BackgroundThe atopic dermatitis (AD) can limit a patient's physical and psychosocial development as well as lower their overall quality of life (QOL), including sleep quality.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between clinical disease severity, QOL and sleep quality in children and adults with AD.MethodsThe SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) was examined to evaluate the severity of AD in fifty adult AD patients and 50 children AD patients. A questionnaire based on the children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) and the children's dermatology life quality index (CDLQI) were used to evaluate QOL and sleep disturbance in children AD patients. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were used in adult AD patients.ResultsThe SCORAD and CSHQ score, the SCORAD and CDLQI score and the CSHQ and CDLQI score demonstrated significant correlations. The SCORAD and PSQI score showed no significant correlation. However, there were significant correlations between the SCORAD and DLQI score and the PSQI and DLQI score.ConclusionIncreasing severity of AD affects sleep quality in child AD patients. In adults, even though the total score of the sleep questionnaire is not associated with the severity of AD, two components of sleep questionnaire are associated with the severity of AD. There is a significant correlation between sleep quality and QOL in both children and adults. Therefore, we suggest that evaluating the sleep quality as well as clinical severity of the disease is necessary in the management of AD patients.