R. García Montelongo

Cutaneous primary paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a common fungal infection in Latin America. Few cases have been described in non‐endemic countries and their diagnosis without the correct suspicion, bearing in mind that the latency period might be up to 60 years, may not be easy.

Proliferative fasciitis: ultrastructure and histogenesis.

The ultrastructure was studied of 2 cases of proliferative fasciitis (PF) which affected the fascia and subcutaneous fat. Two basic cell types were observed in the lesions: fibroblast‐like, and giant cells. The fibroblast‐like cells had myofibroblastic ultrastructural characteristics. The giant cells showed a well‐developed, rough endoplasmic reticulum, irregularly distributed filaments and clear lipid droplets in their cytoplasms. Ultrastructurally, the giant cells seemed to belong to a cellular line capable of synthesizing ground substances and extracellular fibers, but with a modified phenotype. A consistent feature was the presence of nodular aggregates of numerous proliferating perivascular cells. Transitional forms between perivascular, fibroblast‐like, and giant cells were observed. Our hypothesis is that perivascular cells (activated pericytes) are the source of the fibroblast‐like and giant cells in proliferative fasciitis.

Sweet’s Syndrome Induced by Oral Contraceptive

All criteria for drug-induced Sweet’s syndrome are fulfilled by our patient. Only a single case in which Sweet’s syndrome was believed to be precipitated by oral contraceptives could be found. Nevertheless as more cases of drug-induced Sweet’s syndrome are being reported in the literature we suggest that a drug aetiology should be sought in cases of Sweet’s syndrome and we recommend that a careful drug history should be included in the assessment of all the cases of this syndrome. (excerpt)

Tratamiento del carcinoma basocelular con radiaciones ionizantes

Resumen —El conocimiento y correcto empleo de las diferentes tecnicas de radioterapia suponen una gran ayuda en el manejo de los pacientes con carcinomas basocelulares. En nuestro Servicio continuamos empleando la tecnica de radioterapia de contacto para estas neoplasias en un numero elevado de enfermos. Hemos recogido los datos referentes a los tumores tratados durante los anos 1997, 1998 y 1999, un total de 279, y hemos analizado los datos epidemiologicos de la muestra, edad, sexo y fototipo, asi como tamano, tipo clinico, localizacion, cicatrizacion y recidivas de los tumores. Empleamos una tecnica desarrollada por nuestro equipo, consistente en tres sesiones de 10 Gy, hasta un total de 30 Gy, lo cual supone un buen balance entre la comodidad del enfermo y los resultados medicos en tasas de curacion y resultado estetico de las cicatrices. Los pacientes tratados fueron en su mayoria de pelo oscuro en la edad adulta y ojos claros. Hemos tratado lesiones de 0,5 a 3,5 cm de diametro con un 5% de recidivas y un 22,3% de cicatrices imperceptibles.