Background/Objectives En coup de sabre (ECDS) and Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) are variants of linear morphea on the head and neck that can be associated with neurologic manifestations. Intracranial abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be present in a significant proportion of patients. Methods We describe 32 pediatric patients from our institution with ECDS or PRS, in whom neuroimaging was performed in 21 cases. We also review 51 additional patients from the literature. Results Nineteen percent of the children at our institution had intracranial abnormalities on MRI, half of whom were asymptomatic. Hyperintensities on T2-weighted sequences were the most common finding, present in all patients who had intracranial abnormalities on MRI. Seizures and headaches were the most common neurologic symptom, affecting 13% and 9% of our population, respectively. The presence of neurologic symptoms was not correlated with neuroimaging abnormalities as 2 asymptomatic patients had marked MRI findings, while the MRI was abnormal in only 2/9 symptomatic patients. Similarly, the severity of the superficial disease did not predict neurologic involvement; a patient with subtle skin involvement had striking MRI findings and seizures while another patient with a bony defect had no brain parenchymal involvement. Conclusions Neurologic symptoms and neuroimaging abnormalities are found in a surprisingly substantial percentage of children with ECDS and PRS. Early recognition of neurologic involvement is necessary as it affects treatment choices. As clinical predictors of intracranial abnormalities are poor, strong consideration should be given to obtaining an MRI prior to treatment initiation to assist in management decisions and establish a baseline examination.

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are benign tumors of endothelial-like cells. Occurring in 4.5% of children, they are the most common tumor of childhood. The great majority of patients with IH will not need treatment, but 10% require systemic treatment. Many treatments have been described for the treatment of IH, but the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any. Over the last decade, numerous reports of successful treatment of IH with propranolol have been published. Despite its widespread use, little is known regarding the proper dosing, safety monitoring, and during of treatment or long-term outcomes for propranolol treatment of IH. Given its potential side effects, detailed education regarding proper administration of the medication as well as warning signs to watch for is necessary for parents and caretakers. Herein, we provide a parental handout that practitioners can individually tailor for use in their clinics when educating parents and caretakers about the use of propranolol for IH. Updates will also need to be made as more is learned regarding the optimal dosing and safety monitoring when using propranolol for this indication. Forward This article is a little different from the usual Techniques for Tots which have typically focused on examination or surgical techniques. We hope the readers will find it useful as an educational tool for families whose children are receiving propranolol for infantile hemangiomas. Ilona J. Frieden M.D. Lawrence F. Eichenfield M.D. Editors, Pediatric Dermatology

Dermatologists have been placed in a prime position to make new genetic discoveries. Tissue is easily obtained from the skin or mucosa for the study of germline and somatic mosaic disorders. This, along with the recent development of next-generation sequencing, makes dermatology an exciting field with essentially endless possibilities for discovering genes responsible for disease, better understanding complex molecular pathways, and eventually developing targeted therapies. To take advantage of this great opportunity, a basic understanding of the advances in genetic testing is vital. Herein we give an overview of next-generation sequencing, including some of the applications it may be used for. We also review various study designs for genetic discovery, each of their benefits and downfalls, and how they may be applied to the study of dermatologic disease.

We report a case of Merkel cell polyomavirus detection in the skin of a patient with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EDV) and a family history remarkable for an unusual inheritance pattern for EDV.

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The practice of critical care medicine requires detailed knowledge of the practical aspects of respiratory physiology, including lung mechanics, the physiology of hypoxia, and the control of breathing. Before the lungs can enable gas exchange, air must move from the upper airway down a series of branching small airways and reach the alveoli. In the walls of the alveoli, capillaries form a dense network and receive blood flowing from the pulmonary artery before it flows to the pulmonary vein. Between the capillary network and the alveoli lies a thin blood-gas barrier through which oxygen and carbon dioxide move, chiefly by simple diffusion.