A comparative study of cutaneous toxicities of two different commonly used combination chemotherapeutic regimens was conducted on 16 patients of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The common drugs in the two regimens were cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone. One of the regimens which was administered to 10 patients, included doxorubicin as an additional drug. This combination is preferred in high grade malignancy. However, the addition of doxorubicin resulted in enhanced severity and multiplicity of cutaneous manifestations. If it is possible to choose between two or more regimens for a given malignancy, the risk-benefit ratio can be weighed to choose the appropriate and least toxic drugs.

Of the 37 patients enrolled for this treatment, 13 have been lost to follow up and 4 have died. Of the remaining 20, 8 are already in remission (40%), while 12 are still having active disease. Of the 8 patients who are now in remission, 1 is in phase II and taking monthly dexamethasone cyclophosphamide pulse and 50 mg cyclophosphamide daily while in 3 patients all the treatment has already been withdrawn (phase IV). All these patients are being followed up for any recurrence. The duration of remission has been more than 6 months in 7 patients (maximum 2 years). The chief side-effect observed was increased susceptibility to pyogenic and candidal infections of the skin and oral mucosa respectively. The other side-effects noted were generalized weakness and lethargy following DCP (1), irregular menstrual periods (1), amenorrhoea (1), general darkening of complexion (1), steroid psychosis (1), transient eosinophilia (1) and marked transient oligospermia.

39 psoriatic patients with arthropathy and a negative rheumatoid factor were analysed to find the types of arthropathy and psoriasis and also any associated bichemical changes which could indicate the risk of developing arthropathy. All 5 types of arthropathy were noted, though the asymmetrical mono or oligo articular type was the most common and psoriasis vulgaris with nail involvement was more commonly associated with arthropathy. A significant association between serum hypocalcemia and psoriatic arthropathy was observed.

The immunoperoxide (IP) technique can be used for the detection of immune deposits in various tissue pathologies. This article focusses on the standardization of the reagents anti IgG, anti IgA and anti C3C which are used to target these immune deposits. Lymph node tissue was used as substrate for standardization of anti IgG and anti IgM. For anti IgA, intestine was used while for anti C3C kidney tissue rapidly proliferating glomerulo nephritis - RPGN was utilized. Sensitivity of the technique was found to be high. Also the results on paraffin section were excellent and could be interpreted using simple light microscope. It is concluded that once standardization is achieved, IP can be used as an essential modality in the detection of immune deposits in a wide variety of immunologically mediated dermatologic disorders.

A 32-year old man presented with erythematous papulosquamous lesions on the body with multiple horns of varying size and shape on scalp.

A case of incontinentia pigmenti, a rare genodermatosis is being reported from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A 56-year old woman developed multiple papules, plaques and erythema - multiforme (EM) like lesions on palms, soles, abdomen, back, axillary and gluteal folds of one month duration. She also had erythematous plaques, painful necrotising ulcers and oro-genital ulcerations. Skin biopsy was suggestive of plaque stage of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Three patients with a family history of syringomas seen over a 12-month period are reported. Familial syringomas may not be as rare as generally believed.

Three cases of culture proven primary cutaneous infections caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum, a rapidly growing non tuberculous mycobacterium, are reported. The first case was treated with ciprofloxacin and the other two, with trimethoprim / sulphamethoxazole with an excellent outcome.