No abstract

Herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus are double-stranded DNA viruses that commonly infect humans, resulting in cutaneous manifestations. Diagnosis is generally made based on clinical findings; however, when the presentation is atypical, biopsy can aid in making a correct diagnosis. The classic histopathological findings of herpetic infection are well established (acantholysis, ballooning degeneration, intranuclear inclusions, multinucleation, necrosis, and formation of vesicles or ulcers). Herpes infection can also cause histopathological changes in many dermal structures. Furthermore, herpes can masquerade as a variety of hematologic malignancies or benign cutaneous conditions. The histopathological spectrum of herpes infections is reviewed and discussed.

Testicular choriocarcinoma needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous metastases in young adult men because of its propensity for early hematogenous dissemination. Furthermore, the diagnosis may not be suspected in many cases in which there is clinically no testicular enlargement. This highly aggressive germ cell tumor typically metastasizes to the liver, lungs, and brain. Skin metastasis is exceedingly rare with only 22 cases previously reported in the world literature. We herein report 2 additional cases: a 25-year-old man and a 32-year-old man, both of whom were treated for mixed germ cell tumors and developed multiple cutaneous metastases to the head.

Cutaneous metastases occur in about 10% of patients with cancer, occasionally presenting as the initial sign of internal malignancy. Most often cutaneous metastases are an indicator of advanced cancer and are associated with a poor prognosis. The scrotum is a rare site of cutaneous metastasis, and metastatic tumor to the scrotum can be mistaken for other skin lesions. We reviewed the published literature regarding patients who developed cutaneous metastasis to the scrotum. We summarized the clinical characteristics of these men, including primary tumor sites, age at diagnosis, treatment regimens, interval between diagnosis of primary tumor and subsequent metastasis, and outcomes. We extensively searched the PubMed medical database for papers on visceral malignancies with metastasis to the scrotum. We limited our definition to solid organ tumors; thus lymphomas, sarcomas, and melanomas of the scrotum were excluded. We identified 29 patients who developed scrotal metastases from visceral cancers. The colon/rectum (34%), prostate (28%), and lung (14%) were the most frequent sites of tumor origin. The prognosis for these patients is poor: mean patient survival was only four months after diagnosis of metastatic skin lesions. Cutaneous metastasis to the scrotum is a rare manifestation of internal malignancies that most often represents an advanced and/or progressive cancer associated with a poor prognosis. Treatment is often unsuccessful, and the mean patient survival following scrotal metastasis is <4 months.

Experiments were carried out to confirm the presence of chlorate ion (ClO3−) in the treated water of utilities that use hypochlorination. Sixteen commercially produced, concentrated liquid hypochlorite feedstocks were analyzed for ClO3−, and levels as high as 158 g percent ClO3− relative to hypochlorite ion were measured. Finished‐water samples from the utilities surveyed contained as much as 0.30 mg ClO3−/L, primarily the result of decomposition of the liquid hypochlorite feedstocks. Although both dilution and lower temperatures can be effective in minimizing ClO3− formation, it was observed that diluting the initial liquid hypochlorite concentration by a factor of 2 is more effective than decreasing the temperature from 24 to 10°C. A methodology is proposed that predicts the dilution or temperature reduction (or both) required to avoid significant ClO3− formation in the feedstock solutions.

Radiation therapy is associated with a variety of complications, including the development of primary skin cancers in the radiated region. However, it is rare for patients with visceral cancers who are treated with radiation therapy to subsequently develop cutaneous metastasis within the radiation port. We describe two patients with internal malignancies who developed cutaneous metastases within their radiation ports following radiotherapy. In addition, we used PubMed to perform an extensive literature review and identify additional reports of cutaneous metastasis within a radiation port. We excluded patients who developed melanoma or primary skin cancers in the radiation port. We also excluded patients with non-solid organ malignancies. Herein, we summarize the characteristics of 23 additional patients who experienced radiation port cutaneous metastases and explore possible mechanisms for the occurrence of radiation port cutaneous metastases.

No abstract

Crospovidone, a polymer of poly N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, is an inert insoluble disintegrant found in pharmaceutical tablets. This material has been encountered in the lungs of intravenous drug users and embolized with other components such as talc and microcrystalline cellulose. More recently, crospovidone has also been described in the gastrointestinal tract. We present 2 cases of cutaneous crospovidone deposition resulting from subcutaneous injection of crushed tablets, commonly known as “skin popping.” Clinical presentation includes painful, inflamed papules, nodules, or ulcers with overlying eschar. Crospovidone has a distinct and reproducible histochemical staining profile. Histologic recognition of this material is important because it can guide clinicians in their diagnosis and management decisions.