Published papers

Indeterminate cell histiocytosis (ICH) is a rare disorder, characterized by infiltration of the skin by neoplastic cells that are characteristically positive for S-100 and CD1a, but lack Birbeck's granules. A 75-year-old man presented with a 4-year history of multiple papules on the trunk, limbs, face and neck. Skin biopsy revealed dense infiltration of histiocytic cells that were CD1a+/S100+, but lacked Birbeck's granules. No other abnormality was seen during a general examination including a computed tomography scan of the body, gallium scintigraphy, and an abdominal sonography. Broadband ultraviolet B (UVB) treatment was used for the skin lesions, and partial but almost complete remission was obtained. The case suggests that UVB phototherapy is an option for treatment of ICH. © 2008 The Author(s).

Leuprorelin acetate is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) analog, which is used for chemical castration. Chemical castration treatment has an especially important role for prostate cancer. To ensure ongoing chemical castration, a novel sustained-action injection system using spherical microcapsules has been developed. We report a patient who had granuloma caused by administration of the 11.25 mg leuprorelin acetate product. Histological examination revealed many giant cells with vacuoles. On the basis of reported cases, these vacuoles are characteristic for the granuloma caused by leuprorelin acetate product. The vacuoles in the granuloma are the same size as the microcapsules, and their shape is almost spherical. We assume that the vacuoles in the granuloma are actually the microcapsules. We expect that there will be investigations regarding the procatarctic cause of granuloma formation. © 2006 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Trichophytia profunda acuta of the glabrous skin (TPAGS) arose in a 67-year-old Japanese man. The patient presented indurated erythematous plaques and nodules on his left forearm. Direct microscopic examination of the scale in KOH preparation was negative for fungal elements, and culture for dermatophytes was also negative. Although fungal infection could not be proven in hematoxillin-eosin stained sections, deep-cut sections of the biopsied skin lesion with PAS stain revealed the ectothrix presence of fungal elements. Nested PCR was done with Trichophyton specific primers directed to internal transcribed spacer gene 1 (ITS1), using template DNA obtained from formalin fixed, paraffin embedded skin sections. A single band corresponding to T. rubrum was obtained, and the etiological agent was thus identified. KOH tests and cultures may often turn out unsuccessful, perhaps reflecting the hair follicle dominant fungus growth in TPAGS. Although these tests are most important for diagnosis of TPAGS, nested PCR using paraffin embedded skin sections may be an alternative method to identify the etiological agent.

We report a case of dermatophytosis in a Judo wrestler caused by Trichophyton tonsurans (T. tonsurans) with clinical features that mimicked the concentric rings of tinea imbricata. Tinea imbricata is a unique dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton concentricum (T. concentricum), observed endemically in subtropical to torrid zones and characterized by impressive concentric rings. We found three similar cases of the dermatophytosis in the literature that were reported as tinea pseudoimbricata or tinea indecisiva. All of these cases were associated with systemic or local immunosuppression, perhaps simulating the mechanism of tinea imbricata, which is known to involve the lack of delayed type hypersensitivity to T. concentricum. These cases imply that iatrogenic immunosuppression may perhaps play an important role in the development of the unique clinical features mimicking tinea imbricata. Furthermore, three of the four cases, including the presented case, were caused by T. tonsurans. It may be necessary to consider T. tonsurans infection when multiple concentric erythemas are encountered.