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BACKGROUND: Multiple miliary osteoma cutis of the face represents primary extra-skeletal bone formation that arises within the skin of the face. METHODS: A 60-year-old woman with multiple miliary osteoma cutis of the face was treated by application of 0.05% tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid) cream nightly. RESULTS: After 3 months of therapy there were fewer papules and a decrease in size of remaining lesions. In a literature search, it was found that local application of tretinoin was successful and achieved a decrease in the number of papules over the face in all patients with multiple miliary osteoma cutis of the face; however, the length of time to achieve response varied from a few weeks to 6 months. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that local application of tretinoin cream should be considered in the therapy of multiple miliary osteoma cutis of the face, particularly when the lesions are small and superficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for incomplete excision of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study of 369 patients who underwent a primary excision of SCCs was performed within an outpatient and a hospital plastic surgery department setting. Results: Incomplete excision occurred in 25 of 369 primary excisions of SCC (6.8%). Location of the tumors on the forehead, temples, peri-auricular region, ears, cheeks, nose, lips or neck was significantly associated with incomplete excision of the tumors. In particular, high incomplete excision proportions were observed for tumors located on the ears (16.7%), neck (16.7%), temples (11.1%), nose (10.8%) or lips (7.1%). Incomplete excision of SCC was associated with the setting of the operation in the hospital as compared to ambulatory settings ( p = 0.046) and was inversely associated with the specimen thickness ( p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant association between incomplete excision of SCC and gender, age, clinical appearance of the lesion (suspected SCC vs other diagnoses), differentiation pattern, diameter of the tumor, length or width of the excised specimen, solar changes or ulceration. Conclusion: We recommend that in patients with SCCs located in the forehead, temples, periauricular region, ears, cheeks, nose, lips or neck surgeons should commence particular surgical measures to avoid inadequate excisions of the tumors. In particular, surgeons should use wider excisional margins in tumors located in the embryonic fusion planes (e.g. eyelids and naso-labial folds). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Paclitaxel and trastuzumab are new treatments for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Case report : We describe here a 40-year-old female patient with metastatic breast cancer who developed a photosensitive rash 1 month after initiation of paclitaxel and trastuzumab therapy. The eruption appeared on the dorsal aspect of her hands, forearms, legs and face and consisted of erythema, edema and vesicles, and was associated with distal onycholysis. Aberrations in various parameters of the metabolism of porphyrins were observed in urine and erythrocytes. Sun avoidance and withdrawal of paclitaxel was followed by resolution of the rash and a return to the normal pattern of porphyrins biosynthesis. Conclusion : The combination of paclitaxel and trastuzumab treatment and sun exposure may induce a photosensitive reaction, associated with changes in various parameters of porphyrins biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]