Sedef Sahin

Risk of melanoma in medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevi: A follow-up study

BACKGROUND The risk of the occurrence of malignant melanoma (MM) in medium-sized (1.5 to 19.9 cm in diameter) congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) is the subject of controversy. Universally accepted recommendations regarding the management of such lesions have not been made. OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to assess the risk of MM arising in medium-sized CMN. METHODS The study included 230 medium-sized CMN in 227 patients, first seen in a private dermatology practice from 1955 to 1996, who were followed up for MM arising within their CMNs. Criteria for entry into the study included (1) a clinically diagnosed medium-sized CMN, (2) minimum follow-up period of 1 year, and (3) a photograph of the lesion in the patients medical record. RESULTS No MM occurred in a medium-sized CMN during an average follow-up of 6.7 years (median, 5.8 years) to an average age of 25.5 years (median, 19.1 years). CONCLUSION The results of this short-term follow-up study do not support the view that there is a clinically significantly increased risk for MM arising in banal-appearing medium-sized CMN or that prophylactic excision of all such lesions is mandatory. Lifelong medical observation seems a reasonable alternative for many medium-sized CMN.

Concomitant vitiligo and psoriasis in a patient treated with interferon alfa-2a for chronic hepatitis B infection.

Abstract:  Well‐known cutaneous side effects of interferon (IFN)‐alfa therapy include dry skin, pruritus, hair loss, and psoriasis. Presumably because of its potent immunomodulatory activity, the use of IFN‐alfa has also led to the development of autoimmune diseases in susceptible individuals. Vitiligo, an autoimmune cutaneous disease, has been reported to occur during IFN‐alfa therapy. We report a 10‐year‐old girl with chronic hepatitis B infection in whom IFN‐alfa treatment induced de novo development of vitiligo and psoriasis. Neither skin condition improved after withdrawal of interferon treatment. Concomitant occurrence of vitiligo and psoriasis due to IFN‐alfa has not been reported previously.

No additional effect of topical calcipotriol on narrow-band UVB phototherapy in patients with generalized vitiligo.

Background/Purpose: There is no definite cure for vitiligo; however, treatment responses with photobiological modalities are quite acceptable. Of all these, narrow‐band UVB phototherapy was proposed rather recently. Calcipotriol has been shown to have stimulating activity on melanogenesis besides immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory effects. This study was performed to determine whether adding topical calcipotriol to narrow‐band UVB phototherapy enhances the efficacy of treatment.

Cutaneous mastocytosis : demographic aspects and clinical features of 55 patients

Background  Mastocytosis is a rare, heterogeneous group of disorder with abnormal increase of mast cells in one or more organ systems.

Polymerase chain reaction in cutaneous tuberculosis: is it a reliable diagnostic method in paraffin-embedded tissues?

Background Most cutaneous tuberculosis lesions contain few bacilli, so identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in conventional laboratory tests is difficult. In vitro amplification of specific DNA sequences using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a valuable tool in the rapid detection of slow‐growing organisms like M. tuberculosis.

The effect of maintenance narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy on the duration of remission for psoriasis: a prospective randomized clinical trial

Background  Narrow‐band (311 nm) UVB is an effective treatment modality for moderate to severe psoriasis. The effect of maintenance narrow‐band UVB on the duration of remission is unknown.

Examination of mycosis fungoides for the presence of Epstein–Barr virus and human herpesvirus‐6 by polymerase chain reaction

The aetiology of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) remains unknown despite numerous investigations. In recent years, retroviruses and human herpesviruses have been implicated to play a causal part in CTCL.

A case of lupus vulgaris successfully treated with antituberculous therapy despite negative PCR and culture

A 14-year-old boy presented with a pink firm plaque with well-defined borders in the right infra-orbital skin area. On diascopy, the infiltrate exhibited a typical apple-jelly appearance. No acid-fast bacilli could be demonstrated. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay did not reveal the presence of mycobacteria in a lesional biopsy sample. Culture of biopsied tissue on Loewenstein-Jensen medium was negative. Although the tuberculosis culture and PCR did not confirm tuberculosis, a diagnosis of lupus vulgaris was made considering the clinical and histopathological findings. After a 9-month antituberculous therapy, the lesion disappeared. We believe that a diagnosis of lupus vulgaris still depends more on clinical and histopathological findings than on tuberculosis culture or PCR.

Xanthelasma palpebrarum and its relation to atherosclerotic risk factors and lipoprotein (a).

Objectives  To investigate the association between xanthelasma, atherosclerotic risk factors, and lipoprotein (Lp) (a), and to determine whether xanthelasma may be a cutaneous marker for atherosclerosis.

PUVA treatment of vitiligo: a retrospective study of Turkish patients

Background Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) is considered to be the treatment of choice for subtotal vitiligo; however, it is time consuming and carries certain health risks for both patients and physicians. This study attempts to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment in Turkish vitiligo patients.