submitted by:
SCOTT R. GRANTER
Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
The patient is a child who developed raised ulcerated lesions on her hand 2 weeks following a prairie
dog bite. (Case courtesy of Kurt Reed, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield Wisconsin).
submitted by:
SCOTT R. GRANTER
Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
The patient is a 57-year old handyman who presented one day after believing he had been bitten by an
arthropod after working in a ventilation tower. The following day he collapsed and was noted to have
a necrotic lesion on his chest in the approximate area of his alleged bite the day before. This
lesion was biopsied. (Case of Dr. PH McKee, Boston, Ma).
submitted by:
A. NEIL CROWSON
Regional Medical Laboratory and University of Oklahoma
Tulsa, OK
A 38 year old man with a 15 year history of Crohn's disease developed an 8 x 5 cm plaque on the right
buttock that was not in continuity with diseased anal or rectal mucosa. A biopsy showed a
psoriasiform pattern of epidermal hyperplasia overlying dilated dermal lymphatic spaces containing
aggregates of banal histiocytes.
submitted by:
A. NEIL CROWSON
Regional Medical Laboratory and University of Oklahoma
Tulsa, OK
A 54 year old man presented with fatigue and weakness and was found to be seropositive for hepatitis
C. He then developed ulcerating pustular plaques up to 11 cm in diameter on the forearms and shins. A
forearm lesion was biopsied along it's pustule-studded rolled border. The biopsy showed epidermal
hyperplasia with pustulation overlying a dermis heavily infiltrated by neutrophils with lysis of
dermal collagen and a Sweet's-like vascular reaction peripheral to the zones of maximal tissue
pathergy.
submitted by:
CYNTHIA M. MAGRO
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
A 56 year old male presented with progressive tightening of the lower extremities and proximal arms.
A biopsy revealed morphologic changes typical of eosinophilic fasciitis. However he continued to
develop features of progressive sclerosis including evidence of esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly,
and progressive dyspnea, the latter prompting an open lung biopsy. The lung biopsy showed an active
paucicellular capillaritis in concert with vascular drop out and concomitant ensuing septal
fibroplasia. Serology showed a myriad of positive connective tissue disease markers including
antibodies to Ro, La, and RNP. The patient's quantitative IgG antibodies to B19 were markedly
elevated although in the absence of discernible IgM antibodies. B19 DNA was discovered in the
patient's lung and skin biopsies.
submitted by:
CYNTHIA M. MAGRO
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
A 49 year old woman presented with a 2 week history of fever, vasculitic lesions on the lower
extremities. In addition she subsequently developed shortness of breath. Bronchoalveolar lavage
revealed extensive hemorrhage. Other laboratory investigations revealed a low haemoglobin along with
moderate thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia, a positive rheumatoid factor, and depressed complement.
Cytomegalovirus antibodies of both IgM and IgG isotype were positive. In addition CMV DNA was
isolated from the blood. A skin biopsy was performed and revealed a striking pandermal vascular
reaction characterized by nodular aggregates of neutrophils and mononuclear cells surrounding and
permeating the cutaneous vasculature accompanied by extensive fibrin deposition. Many of the
endothelial cells appeared proplastic, manifesting a hobnailed nuclear contour. In situ PCR studies
for CMV revealed staining of endothelial cells for CMV. A few scattered cells within the interstitium
were also positive. Although initially she was given exclusively immunsuppressive therapy which lead
to worsening of her symptoms eventually she was given a combination of gancylcovir and prednisone.
This combined therapy over the course of several weeks lead to resolution of her symptoms.
submitted by:
J. ANDREW CARLSON
Albany Medical College
Albany, NY
Healthy 22yo male presented with a three day history of flu-like symptoms- fatigue, sore throat,
cough, headache, and chest congestion and a low grade fever 99°F. Cefzil (Cephalexin™) was prescribed
for presumptive sinusitis. One week later, he complained of an earache and non-pruritic, burning
rash. The rash, morbilliform with erythematous and purpuric macules and papules, began on the face
then spread to the trunk, arms, legs and feet including palms and soles. His soft and hard palate
exhibited petechiae, the tonsils were enlarged and covered by an exudate, and cervical lymphadenopathy
was present. Clinical differential diagnosis: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, erythema multiforme, vs.
infectious mononucleosis.
submitted by:
J. ANDREW CARLSON
Albany Medical College
Albany, NY
40yo female. Asymptomatic truncal rash. Clinical impression: granuloma annulare/rheumatoid nodule.
submitted by:
MICHAEL MORGAN
University of South Florida College of Medicine
Tampa, FL
A 67 year old man with abdominal pain and recent onset of diabetes mellitus presented with a rash
involving the face, intertriginous areas and genitals.
submitted by:
MICHAEL MORGAN
University of South Florida College of Medicine
Tampa, FL
A 70 year old man has a history of gradually expanding and ulcerating nodules of the neck areas.
