Summary:We prospectively evaluated the neuropathological complications of 180 patients who underwent autopsy studies following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (177 allogeneic, three autologous). The most frequent underlying disorders included severe aplastic anemia (n = 55), chronic myelogenous leukemia (n = 53), acute myelogenous leukemia (n = 24) and Fanconi anemia (n = 16). There were 114 males and 66 females. Neuropathological findings were detected in 90.55% of the patients. The most frequent findings were subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) (n = 57), intraparenchymal hemorrhages (IHP) (n = 49), fungal infections (n = 16), Wernicke's encephalopathy (n = 10), microglial nodular encephalopathy (n = 10) and neurotoxoplasmosis (n = 8). In only 17 patients was the brain within normal limits. Survival time after BMT averaged 5.4 months and the majority of patients died in the first 3 months post BMT (n = 105). Central nervous system (CNS) pathology was the main cause of death in 17% of the patients (n = 31), with a predominance of IHP in this particular group. Furthermore, the survival time of these patients who died of CNS causes (96.3 days) was almost half of the survival time of those who died of extra-cerebral causes (177.8 days) (P = 0.0162). IHP (70.96 vs 27.22%) (P Ͻ 0.001), fungal infections (25.8 vs 8.88%) (P Ͻ 0.001) and toxoplasmosis (9.67 vs 4.44%) (P Ͻ 0.001) were significantly more frequent in the group of patients who died due to CNS causes than in the control group. The findings of this work provide a possible guide to the possible causes of neurological syndromes following BMT. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 301-307. Keywords: central nervous system; bone marrow transplantation; cerebrovascular disorders; infections Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is used to treat several malignant diseases, severe aplastic anemia, immunodeficiencies and metabolic disorders.1,2 It allows use of potentially lethal doses of chemotherapy and/or irradiation to eradicate systemic malignancy or poorly functioning con-

Background:  Cutaneous infectious and inflammatory diseases may contain a significant number of CD30‐positive cells, thus mimicking lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) or anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Methods:  We reviewed our cases of non‐neoplastic skin conditions with large, CD30‐positive cells and searched the literature for similar cases. Results:  A total of 28 cases were included in the study: Milker’s nodule (n = 8), Herpes simplex virus infection (n = 7), lymphomatoid drug reaction (n = 3), molluscum contagiosum (n = 3), nodular scabies (n = 2), leishmaniasis (n = 1), syphilis (n = 1), pernio (n = 1), ruptured infundibular cyst (n = 1) and pseudolymphoma in a scar (n = 1). CD30‐positive cells were often arranged in clusters and revealed both Golgi and membrane positivity, similar to what was observed in LyP and CD30+ anaplastic large T‐cell lymphoma. Conclusions:  Analysis of our data and of those published in the literature shows that viruses and drugs are the most common cause for occurrence of large CD30‐positive cells in cutaneous pseudolymphomatous infiltrates. Arrangement of these large, CD30‐positive cells in small clusters is not unique to cutaneous CD30‐positive lymphomas, and in many cases a precise diagnosis can be made only upon accurate clinicopathological correlation or using ancillary methods such as polymerase chain reaction analysis for viral DNA.

Toxoplasma infection following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is infrequently reported. We report 9 cases of disseminated Toxoplasma gondii infection in BMT recipients documented during an 11-year period at our institution. The incidence of T. gondii infection in our institution (1.14 per 100 allogeneic BMT) is higher than previously reported. The most frequently affected sites were the brain, lungs, and heart. Findings common to most patients who developed toxoplasmosis were positive pre-transplant serology, allogeneic transplant and graft-versus-host disease and its treatment, as well as BMT from matched unrelated donors. All 9 patients died and 8 were diagnosed only after autopsy. Heightened awareness of the occurrence of toxoplasmosis in marrow recipients, especially in highly endemic areas, and early diagnosis and therapy are needed for a better outcome.

Diffuse alopecia is mainly caused by telogen effluvium, diffuse androgenetic alopecia (female-pattern hair loss) and diffuse alopecia areata. Differential diagnosis between the three disorders may be difficult in several occasions. In this second part of our study, chronic telogen effluvium and diffuse alopecia areata are discussed in detail, including clinical, dermoscopic and histological aspects. A flowchart presents a practical and objective differential diagnostic approach to diffuse alopecia.

The authors analyzed the results of 650 lesions of the central nervous system submitted to intraoperative cytological diagnosis by the smear technique. Cytological and paraffin section diagnoses were compared. The following statistical values were obtained: accuracy of 97.3%, sensitivity of 97.9%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 99.1%, and negative predictive value of 89.6%. The authors comment on their main pitfalls using this cytological diagnostic procedure.

We describe a case report of disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis as the initial presentation of AIDS in a 24-year-old HIV-positive male patient. He presented multiple ulcerated skin lesions distributed over the face, thorax, legs and arms. Biopsy of one of the cutaneous lesions was suggestive of sporotrichosis and culture isolated Sporothrix schenckii. Itraconazole was started and the lesions progressively resolved after 15 days of medication. The patient was discharged with this medication but he did not return for follow-up. He died three months later in another hospital. Therapy of sporotrichosis in HIV-infected patients remains unclear and the response to therapy is variable. Itraconazole is highly concentrated in the skin and is one of the options for treatment of disseminated sporotrichosis. Key-words: Sporotrichosis. AIDS. Sporothrix schenkii. Itraconazole.Resumo Descrevemos um relato de caso de esporotricose cutânea disseminada como apresentação inicial de AIDS em um paciente masculino de 24 anos HIV positivo. Ele apresentava múltiplas lesões cutâneas ulceradas, distribuídas na face, tórax, pernas e braços. A biopsia de uma das lesões cutâneas foi sugestiva de esporotricose e a cultura revelou Sporothrix schenckii. Foi iniciado o tratamento com itraconazol e as lesões progressivamente involuiram depois de 15 dias de medicação. O paciente teve alta com tratamento ambulatorial, mas não retornou para seguimento. Ele morreu três meses depois em outro hospital. O tratamento da esporotricose em pacientes HIV positivos ainda não está estabelecido. Por sua boa penetração cutânea, o itraconazol é uma das melhores opções para formas disseminadas de esporotricose. Palavras-chaves: Esporotricose. SIDA. Spotothrix schenkii. Itraconazol.

Clinical and histological challenge in the differential diagnosis of diffuse alopecia: female androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata -Part I *Desafio clínico e histológico no diagnóstico diferencial de alopecia difusa: alopecia androgenética, eflúvio telógeno e alopecia areata -Parte IBetina Werner 1 Fabiane Mulinari-Brenner 2Abstract: Diffuse androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss), telogen effluvium, and diffuse alopecia areata may have similar clinical manifestations. Subtle details on physical examination and dermoscopy of the scalp may help to identify those disorders. The authors present a practical discussion on how to approach the patient with diffuse alopecia, considering clinical history, physical examination, and dermoscopic findings. If the diagnosis remains unclear after a careful analysis of the clinical signs, a scalp biopsy may help to distinguish between the three diseases. In this first part of our study, an objective review of female androgenetic alopecia is presented and the most important histological changes are discussed. Keywords: Alopecia; Alopecia areata; Biopsy; Dermoscopy Resumo: Alopecia androgenética difusa (alopecia de padrão feminino), eflúvio telógeno e alopecia areata difusa podem ter apresentações clínicas similares. Detalhes sutis no exame físico e na dermatoscopia do couro cabeludo podem ser úteis no diagnóstico diferencial e interferir na conduta e resultados terapêuticos. Os autores apresentam uma discussão prática de como abordar a paciente com alopecia difusa considerando dados da história clínica, exame físico e dermatoscópico. Quando a dúvida persistir após uma análise cuidadosa dos aspectos clínicos, uma biópsia de couro cabeludo pode permitir a distinção entre as três doenças. Nesta primeira parte, a alopecia androgenética de padrão feminino é abordada em maior detalhe e se faz uma revisão objetiva das principais alterações microscópicas observadas.

The leprosy agents vary in geographic distribution. Finding M lepromatosis in Brazil and Myanmar suggests wide existence of this newly discovered species. The leprosy manifestations likely vary with the etiologic agents.