Pelin Kocyigit

Sodium Hydroxide Chemical Matricectomy for the Treatment of Ingrown Toenails: Comparison of Three Different Application Periods

Objective Sodium hydroxide matricectomy is a successful method for the treatment of ingrown toenails. This study was designed to evaluate the optimal sodium hydroxide application period providing high success rates with minimal postoperative morbidity. Materials and Methods Sixty-six patients with 225 ingrown nail edges were treated in three groups receiving 30-second, 1-minute, and 2-minute applications of sodium hydroxide. Each patient was reviewed postoperatively for pain, drainage, and tissue damage. The median long-term follow-up period was 14 months. Results The success rate of the therapy was 70.9% in the first group, 92.7% in the second group, and 94.4% in the third group. In all groups, about half of the patients experienced minimal pain within 48 hours following the operation, but only in the third group, 20% of the patients had minimal pain, which continued about 1 week. Drainage and tissue damage were minimal or mild in all groups and disappeared within 3 weeks in the first and second groups but were prolonged to 6 weeks in the third group. conclusion The success rate of 30-second application is significantly lower than 1-minute and 2-minute applications. Although the success rates of the latter two procedures are similar, the prolonged healing time is the disadvantage of the 2-minute application. We conclude that 1-minute application of 10% sodium hydroxide is simple, safe, and highly effective for the treatment of ingrown nails.

Vitiligo after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Six Cases and Review of the Literature

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of vitiligo after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). Methods: The development of vitiligo was analyzed among 421 patients who underwent AHCT in Ibni Sina Hospital (University of Ankara) between 1988 and 2004. Results: Among 421 patients, we describe 6 with generalized vitiligo occurring after AHCT for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Five of them had severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Vitiligo was accompanied by alopecia areata and acquired ichthyosis in 2 patients with GVHD. Conclusion: Melanocyte destruction caused by the autoimmune reactions triggered by chronic GVHD as well as a genetic predisposition might have played a role in the development of vitiligo in our patients. These data support the hypothesis that vitiligo is an autoimmune entity.

Keratosis Lichenoides Chronica: Marked Response to PUVA in Combination with Acitretin

Sir, Keratosis lichenoides chronica (KLC) is a rare, chronic and progressive dermatosis. The disease usually affects adults aged 20–50 years and is very resistant to therapy (1). Although KLC shares some clinical and dermatopathological features with lichen planus, it is considered to be a distinct entity (2). We report a patient with recalcitrant KLC, who had a marked response to PUVA in combination with acitretin.

Can specific vessel‐based papulopustular lesions of Behçet's disease be differentiated from nonspecific follicular‐based lesions clinically?

Background  Although papulopustular lesions are one of the diagnostic criteria for Behçets disease, controversy exists as to the nature of these lesions. Specific vessel‐based papulopustular lesions as well as nonspecific follicular lesions may be seen in patients with Behçets disease. Some authors suggest that papulopustular lesions should be considered a positive criterion only if they exhibit a vessel‐based neutrophilic reaction.

Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma Located in the Head and Neck Region with Intralesional Interferon α-2a

AbstractObjective: Intralesional injections of interferon have been reported to provide successful results in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. However, there are only a few reports describing the long-term efficacy of this therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term results of interferon α-2a (IFNα-2a) in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. Methods: Twenty dermatopathologically proven basal cell carcinoma lesions were treated with intralesional IFNα-2a injections three times weekly for 3 weeks. The dose per injection was 1.5 sX 106 IU if the lesion was <2cm in diameter and 3.0 sX 106 IU if it was >2cm. Eight weeks after the last injection, the lesion sites were rebiopsied and all cases were reevaluated both clinically and dermatopathologically. Patients with complete cure were followed up for 7 years to determine the long-term results. Results: Eleven lesions (55%) showed complete clinical and dermatopathological remission, six lesions (30%) showed partial remission, and two lesions (10%) showed no response. One lesion (5%) increased in size during the treatment. No serious adverse effects were observed. During the follow-up period there was only one recurrence, at the fifth year. Conclusion: Treatment with intralesional IFNα-2a was shown to be an effective therapeutic option for basal cell carcinoma, with low recurrence rates in long-term follow-up.

Long-term results of rituximab–intravenous immunoglobulin combination therapy in patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita resistant to conventional therapy

Abstract Background: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare subepidermal bullous disease. Long-term remission in this disease is difficult using current treatments, unlike that in patients with other autoimmune bullous diseases. Objective: We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness and side effects of rituximab–intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) combination treatment in five patients with EBA resistant to conventional treatment. Patients and methods: Rituximab (375 mg/m2) was administered for four consecutive weeks to four patients, and their treatment continued with IVIg at a dose of 2 g/kg/month. One patient received two cycles of rituximab for three consecutive weeks, IVIg in the fourth week, followed by monthly IVIg administrations as in the other patients. Results: The total number of IVIg therapy cycles ranged from 10 to 26 (mean 19.4). Mean skin involvement, mucosal involvement, and disease severity scores decreased after a mean follow-up of 22.6 months (range, 10–28 months). In an analysis performed during months 24–28, the number of CD19-positive B cells was found to be below the normal reference range in four patients. Limitations: This was a retrospective study with a limited number of patients. Conclusion: Rituximab–IVIg combination treatment seems to be effective and safe for treating patients with EBA resistant to conventional treatments.

Epithelioid sarcoma metastatic to the tongue: a rare entity

Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) typically arises as a firm nodule on the extremities of young men. The tumor is remarkable for diagnostic difficulties both clinically and histopathologically resulting in a high frequency of initial misdiagnosis. ES is also known to have a high rate of recurrence and high rate of metastasis predominantly to the lymph nodes, lungs, and scalp. Herein, the second case of ES with metastasis to the tongue is reported.

Comparison of effectiveness of 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser and Nd:YAG laser–IPL combination treatments in hand skin rejuvenation

Objective: Evaluation of the efficacy and side effects of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and Nd:YAG laser–intense pulsed light (IPL) combination treatments in photorejuvenations of skin of the hand, and determining their impacts on patient satisfaction. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five female patients with signs of photoaging on the skin of their hands were included in the study. Three sessions of IPL and four sessions of Nd:YAG laser treatment were applied to the right hand in total with 2-week intervals between each session, whereas six sessions of Nd:YAG laser treatment were applied to the left hand of patients with 2-week intervals between each session. Results: The patients’ ages ranged between 31 and 78, and mean age was 60.77 ± 9.48. While there was no difference in pigment distribution, fine wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, and global scores between the right and left hand prior to treatment (p > 0.05), average pigment tone score was higher in the right hand with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). There was greater improvement in scores of pigment distribution, fine wrinkles, sallowness, pigment tone parameters, and global score on the right hand compared to left hand, which was statistically significant (p <0.001). Conclusion: In rejuvenation of photoaged dorsal skin of the hand, IPL–Nd:YAG laser combination treatment surpasses Nd:YAG laser treatment.

Post-renal transplantation Leser-Trélat sign associated with carcinoma of the gallbladder: A rare association

The sign of Leser-Trélat represents the sudden appearance of multiple seborrheic keratoses in association with an underlying malignancy. The most common associated neoplasms belong to the gastrointestinal tract, mainly the stomach and colon. In the literature, there is only one case of gallbladder carcinoma associated with the Leser-Trélat sign. Thus, the hallmark of our patient is post-renal transplant malignancy-associated Leser-Trélat, which has not been reported before. Here, we report on a 57-year-old man who presented with a sudden increase in the number and size of seborrheic keratoses, particularly on sun-exposed areas 24 years after renal transplantation. The search for an underlying malignancy showed the presence of an adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder which had metastasized to the liver.

Chemical matricectomy with sodium hydroxide: long-term follow-up results.

BACKGROUND Chemical matricectomy with sodium hydroxide is a method being used successfully in the treatment of ingrown toenail. OBJECTIVE In this study, it was aimed to evaluate long-term recurrence rates after chemical matricectomy using sodium hydroxide application of different durations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred two patients with ingrown nail edges were treated with either 1-minute (Group 1) or 2-minute (Group 2) applications of sodium hydroxide matricectomy. All patients were followed for at least 2 years. RESULTS Chemical matricectomy with sodium hydroxide was applied to a total of 585 nail edges of 202 cases. The overall recurrence rates in Group 1 and Group 2 were 6.4% and 7.1%, respectively, during the average 7.5-year follow-up period. No statistically significant differences were detected in terms of recurrence between the 2 groups (p = .73). CONCLUSION Chemical matricectomy with sodium hydroxide is an easy method in the treatment of ingrown nails, with low morbidity and high success rates. There was no difference between 1-minute and 2-minute applications in terms of recurrence during the long-term follow-up. Chemical matricectomy with 1-minute application of sodium hydroxide showed high success in terms of long-term follow-up results.