100 cases of xanthelasma palpebrarum were subjected to closed probe cryosurgery using nitrous oxide gas as the cryogen. Each freeze thaw cycle was fixed for 15 seconds. The procedure was done in a single session in all the cases. All these cases were followed up for 6 months. At the end of 6 months follow up in 68 cases, treated sites looked absolutely normal, in other 6 cases, treated sites looked almost normal except for pin head sized hypopigmentation in the centre of their treated lesions, while in remaining 26 cases, recurrence was observed in the form of yellowish papules/plaques. No other sequelae in the form of scarring or milia were observed in any case.

Retrospective analysis was made of data on the use of methotrexate in elderly psoriatics. Pre-methotrexate assessment of patients induced liver function tests and a liver biopsy in 11 out of 14 patients. Post-methotrexate biopsies were done in 3 patients with total cumulative dose of methotrexate exceeding 1.5 gms. No significant worsening in the liver histology grade was noticed in the elderly patients. No significant side effect of methotrexate was noticed.

A study of palmar dermatoglyphics in genodermatoses was conducted in 219 probands and 100 control subjects by standard ink and roller method, during the period 1977-81 at Government General Hospital, Madras. A study of palmar dermatoglyphics in 20 probands with definite clinical and histopathological evidence of Neurofibromatosis revealed an increased incidence of ulnar loop pattern over the finger tips in both sexes. This digital pattern was not found to be of statistical significance, but a statistically significant reduction in the mean a-b ridge count was observed in female cases. An increased incidence of palmar freckles (60%) was observed as a serendipity while taking the palm prints. Some of the palmar freckles with tiny palpable underlying nodules on histopathological study revealed miniature neurofibroma in the dermis. This serendipity has been recorded as an important clinical sign of neurofibromatosis by the author in her thesis submitted for Doctorate degree in 1981.

A total of 462 patients living in varying socio-economic conditions were screened for tinea infection. 372/462 (70.7%) were found to be culture positive for dermatophytes. Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently isolated dermatophyte. 35% of the infected cases were from the very low income group (group-I), 34.2% from low income group (group-II), 23.3% from middle income group (group-III) and 1.8% from moderately rich group (group-IV). Recurrent, chronic and extensive dermatophytosis were found to be most common in group-I (20.3%) and group-II (17.8%), whereas localized infections were common in group-IV (66.6%) and group-III (65.7%). Recurrence chronicity were more frequent in tinea cruris and tinea corporis. The present study suggests that group-I and group-II may be the likely reservoirs of human ringworm infections in Madras

Efficacy of metronidazole was assessed in 20 leprosy cases with trophic ulcers with poor response to oral and topical antibiotic. Oral metronidazole 400 mg three times daily for one week and topical metronidazole gel 1% for three weeks were found to be very effective.

The significance of deposition of immunoglobulin and/or complements at the dermoepidermal junction (DEJ) and civatte bodies in skin lesions of 15 histopathologically confirmed cases of lichen planus (LP) was evaluated. Civatte boides were seen in 6 (40%) patients while in 9 (60%) these were absent. IgM, IgG, IgA and C3 were seen within civatte bodies in 6, 3, 2 and 3 specimens respectively in various combinations. LP lesions of a shorter duration (one year or less) had civatte bodies while these were absent in those with disease of a longer duration (more than 1 year). Immune complex deposition was seen in only 2 patients. It is concluded that civatte bodies are of diagnostic importance in lichen planus lesions of a short duration only and immune complexes do not seem to play a significant role in its pathogenesis.

Out of total 774 cases under antitubercular therapy only 11 cases (1.42%) developed acneform eruptions. Individual drugs found to cause these eruptions were Isoniazid (0.53%), Rifampicin (1.48%) and Ethambutol (0.63%).

Tumoral calcinosis is an unusual clinical disorder in which large masses of calcium are deposited in the periarticular tissues of the body. The characteristic clinical, radiological and histopathological features of this disorder occurring in three middle aged female patients are reported.

Estimation of peripheral T-lymphocytes (active and total) was carried out in 100 cases of alopecia areata as per method described by Boyam (1977) and West et al (1978). Clinically patients were divided in two groups, alopecia areata circumscribed (group I) and severe alopecia areata (group II). Thirty healthy subjects served as controls. Decrease in percentage of both active and total E-RFC was observed in 70% cases. The decrease was more significant in group II.

A case of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a 19 years old male involving cutaneous and skeletal systems is reported. A clinical scoring system to diagnose such cases is highlighted.

An unusual case of cutaneous lupus erythematous with verrucous lesions is reported for its rarity and clinical interest.

A 12-year-old girl had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type IV lupus nephritis since three-and-a-half years. She was treated with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. She had first attack of herpes zoster (HZ) involving eighth and ninth thoracic segments on right side at the age of nine years. Second attack occurred on the same segments on same side at the age of twelve years. The second attack of herpes zoster was treated with oral acyclovir 400 mg five times a day for seven days plus analgesics and multi-vitamins. Most probably this is the first case of recurrent herpes zoster (RHZ) in a child in Indian literature.

A 45-year-old woman presented with thoracic (3,4,5) herpes zoster with cutaneous dissemination. She was found positive for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Mucocutaneous examination revealed presence of oral thrush and oral hairy leukoplakia. The patient possibly acquired the infection through blood transfusion.

A case of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is reported in 1½ years old boy. He had seborrhoeic dermatitis like condition of scalp, papular lesions with purpura typical of Letterer-Siwe disease associated with constitutional symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Peripheral blood film and bone marrow examination showed presence of LCH cells.

A case of non Hodgkins lymphoma presenting with cutaneous lesions mimicking seborrhoeic dermatitis is reported. Clinician should have a high index of suspicion to diagnose lymphoma in its early stage, since it can mimic many benign dermatoses.

A 65-year-old man presented with typical lesions of porokeratosis palmaris et disseminata clinically and histopathologically. Although this disease has autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, no family history of similar illness was seen in our case.

A 15-year-old boy developed bilateral Becker's naevus over scapular region without any associated abnormality.

Trichophyton tonsurans infection starting at the age of 12 days is reported. The diagnosis was confirmed by KOH examination and culture. Onset of superficial fungal infections in infancy is unusual.

This is an account of twenty eight years of sufferings of a young sikh agriculturist, who ultimately succumbed to chromoblastomycosis- a not so uncommon mycotic infection, despite the use of toxic (amphoterecin-B) and newer antimycotic drugs (ketoconazole). Involvement of face, small and large gut, larynx and trachea are the other highlights of this case.

A male patient with subcorneal pustular dermatosis was initially treated with dapsone with excellent response. Since he developed hypersensitivity to dapsone, corticosteroid was given instead of dapsone. But steroid also was withdrawn since he developed hypertension and diabetes. There was relapse of skin lesions which were treated with oral colchicine, which has profound inhibitory effects on neutrophils. There was excellent therapeutic response to colchicine and the drug well-tolerated.