Robert A. Norman

Grover’s Disease

Grover’s disease is also known as transient (but often stubbornly persistent) acantholytic dermatosis. “Acantholysis” is a histologic term meaning the separation of epidermal keratinocytes (spinous cells).

Geriatric Dermatology: Overview

With the “graying of America,” geriatric dermatology is a rapidly growing field. Many skin problems present differently in the elderly, require alterations in standard therapy, or both. In addition, banal-appearing skin rashes in the elderly may signal underlying systemic disease, especially cancer.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

The most common initial symptoms of porphyria cutanea tarda are cutaneous fragility and blistering of the hands, forearms, and, sometimes, the face. erosions may cause epidermal loss and infections. Healing is slow and painful, causing atrophic scars. Cutaneous findings are characterized by skin photosensitivity with increased skin fragility, facial hypertrichosis, blisters, scarring with milia formation, and skin hyperpigmentation on the hands and other sun-exposed areas. Urine sample will often show a grossly discolored with a tea- or wine-colored tint.

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Synonyms include multiple idiopathic hemorrhagic sarcoma and “classic” Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS).

Solar Elastotic Syndromes

Solar elastotic syndromes include various clinically diverse conditions caused by photodamage. Histologically, they all show solar elastosis.

Mycosis Fungoides (Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma)

Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In the western population there are around 0.3 cases of Sezary syndrome per 100,000 people. Sezary disease is more common in males with a ratio of 2:1, and the mean age of diagnosis is between 55 and 60 years of age.

Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Dermatofibroma (DF) is also called nodular subepidermal fibrosis, benign fibrous histiocytoma, sclerosing hemangioma, and fibroma durum. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is also called Bednar’s tumor (pigmented DFSP).