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A case of calcifying epithelioma (of Malherbe) is reported, which seems to be developing on an epidermal cyst: microscopic examination shows a sudden transformation of the wall of the epidermal cyst into a calcifying epithelioma. This histological feature is very rare: only 2 similar cases have been reported in the literature until now.

Tubular apocrine adenoma is a rare, benign apocrine tumour of the skin, histologically distinct from other epithelial proliferations, showing apocrine differentiation. A new case of this uncommon lesion is reported herein and a review of the literature concerning this tumour is made.

A 42-year-old woman was observed during 3 bouts of eosinophilic cellulitis over a 6-year-period. Skin biopsies were taken at each relapse and processed for histological, immunofluorescent and ultrastructural studies. Histologically the eosinophilic infiltrate extended to the deep dermis and the subcutaneous fat. High levels of circulating immune complexes, and complement and IgG deposits around the vessels were detected for as long as the cutaneous lesions lasted. Under the electron microscope eosinophils were numerous, half of them degranulated and some granules had a double cristal core. No injury to the vessel walls was observed. The 3 recurrences occurred respectively after lincomycin, nesdonal, acetyl salicylic acid and pholcodin ingestion and responded to sulfone and steroid therapy.

Lesional as well as uninvolved skin were studied by light and electron microscopy in 1 case of hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans (Flegel's disease). The main ultrastructural finding was a morphological alteration of lamellar (Odland) bodies. A review of the literature on the ultrastructure of Flegel's disease is made, and the significance of the ultrastructural findings is briefly discussed.

A monoclonal gammopathy was observed in 3 adult patients with long-term and widespread scleredema (Buschke's disease). There was no evidence of multiple myeloma in any patient. The monoclonal immunoglobulin was in every case of the IgG-kappa type. Bence Jones proteinuria was noted in 1 case (kappa). Deposition of monoclonal IgG-kappa in the skin was not detected by immunofluorescence microscopy. These findings and previous reports of 5 cases suggest that diffuse scleredema may be frequently associated with paraproteinemia, but the role of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of the disease remains to be clarified.