Distinct Characteristics of Sweet’s Syndrome of the Scrotum Caused by All-trans Retinoic Acid in a Patient with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Induction therapy with all-<i>trans</i> retinoic acid (ATRA) is effective for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ATRA induces neutrophil differentiation and its associated side effects. The differentiation syndrome is the most characterized ATRA-induced adverse effect. Sweet’s syndrome, also known as neutrophilic dermatosis, is another form of ATRA-associated disease characterized by neutrophil infiltrating erythema that develops with fever. This is a case of a 34-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with APL. At the onset, the patient did not have skin involvement of APL cells. He was treated with ATRA and induction chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine. Scrotal skin rash occurred at day 14, which developed into scrotal ulceration up to day 28 even after eliminating APL cells in his peripheral blood. Sweet’s syndrome is a pathological diagnosis of scrotal skin ulceration representing neutrophil infiltration. The infiltrating neutrophils showed PML-RARα rearrangement. The patient was diagnosed with ATRA-associated Sweet’s syndrome with skin ulcer. His cutaneous lesion did not respond to intravenous prednisolone therapy; thereby, ATRA was discontinued. After the cessation of ATRA, the skin lesion improved in the next week. We confirmed he achieved a complete response after induction chemotherapy. In our observation, ATRA-associated Sweet’s syndrome is characterized by the following clinical manifestations: preferable occurrence in the scrota, tend to progress into skin ulcer, and pathogenicity associated with PML-RARα-positive matured neutrophils. The etiology, pathogenesis, and risk factors of ATRA-associated scrotal ulceration were discussed in the literature review.

A combined protocol for improving reconstruction of scrotal skin avulsions: The experience of the University Hospital Center of Foggia

Objective: Scrotal degloving injuries are rare and constitute a challenge for reconstructive surgeons. The authors describe their successful experience with a combined reconstruction protocol using an acellular dermal matrix (ADM), negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and a split-thickness skin graft (STSG), and the retrospective assessment of overall morbidity and esthetic outcomes. Methods: Five consecutive patients underwent a wide excision of necrotic scrotal skin and a reconstruction procedure using a combined protocol with NPWT, Pelnac®, and STSG. The efficacy of this treatment was determined by assessing overall morbidity and esthetic outcomes with the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Results: The combined protocol made it possible to create an environment that promoted wound healing, improved graft intake, and gage the reconstructed site a more natural look. No significant problems were observed. Satisfactory cosmetic and functional results were obtained in all patients as shown by VSS scores obtained. Conclusions: We believe that this combined protocol is a reliable alternative to flaps and should be considered an excellent option in scrotal reconstruction, especially in critical patients.

Multiparametric ultrasound in torsion of the testicular appendages: a reliable diagnostic tool?

Aim: Torsion of the testicular appendages represents the most common cause of an acute scrotum in prepubertal boys. Its sonographic appearances on gray-scale US and color Doppler US have already been presented in several studies. The aim of this analysis was to expand those already established techniques with strain elastography and thus present typical features of this entity on multiparametric US.Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients presented to the urological department with an acute scrotum between January 2018 and July 2020 identified eleven patients 6-17 years old (mean, 11.1 years), discharged with the diagnosis torsion of the testicular appendages that were examined with a high-end ultrasound device. Results: On gray-scale US all patients showed a round lesion with heterogenous echotexture adjacent to the upper pole of the testis/epididymis with a diameter of 4 to 11.1 mm (mean, 7.7 mm). Scrotal skin thickening and a concomitant hydrocele were found in 9 (81.8%) and 7 (63.6%) cases, respectively. On color Doppler images, all torsed appendages were avascular and in 9 (81.8%) patients we observed hyperemia of the adjacent epididymis. Strain elastography showed increased tissue stiffness in all documented images.Conclusion: Torsion of the testicular appendages has a set of features on multiparametric US. Awareness of this features can facilitate diagnosis of torsion of the testicular appendages and reduce unnecessary surgicalscrotal exploration or unwarranted antibiotic treatment.

A hímvessző bőrének helyreállítása szklerotizáló lipogranuloma okozta deformitás miatt

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A hímtag körméretének növelése érdekében, az annak bőre alá bejuttatott zsírnemű anyag szklerotizáló lipogranulomát okoz. Hazánkban a szklerotizáló lipogranuloma okozta hímvessző-deformitások kezelésének legelterjedtebb módszere a két ülésben végzett bőrpótlás. Ennek ellenére a magyar nyelvű szakirodalomban kevés adat áll rendelkezésre a kétüléses műtét eredményességéről és várható szövődményeiről. Célkitűzés: Tanulmányunkban a szklerotizáló lipogranuloma okozta deformitások miatti – két ülésben végzett – hímvesszőbőr-helyreállítással szerzett tapasztalatainkról, a műtét után kialakuló szövődményekről számolunk be retrospektív adatgyűjtés alapján. Módszer: 2008. március 1. és 2020. március 1. között a Debreceni Egyetem Urológiai Klinikáján 17 betegen végeztünk kétüléses hímvesszőbőr-helyreállító műtétet. A szklerotizáló lipogranuloma által érintett bőrt teljes mértékben eltávolítottuk, majd a lecsupaszított hímtagot a herezacskó elülső felszínén kialakított subcutan csatornába helyeztük. A második ülés során a herezacskó bőre alá ültetett hímvesszőt felszabadítottuk. Eredmények: A Clavien–Dindo-beosztás szerint az első ülés után három, a második ülés után egy I. gradusú szövődmény alakult ki; II–V. gradusú szövődményt nem figyeltünk meg. Azon 9 beteg közül, akik mindkét ülésen átestek, 7 beteg elégedett volt a beavatkozás eredményével, 2 beteg korrekciós műtéten esett át fél és 9 évvel a második ülés után. A 8 beteg közül, akik csak ez első ülést vállalták, egy korrekciós műtét történt 4 hónappal a műtét után. Következtetés: A hímvessző szklerotizáló lipogranulomája esetén az érintett bőrterület kimetszése után hímvesszőbőr-helyreállítás szükséges. A herezacskó-bőrlebeny alkalmazásának előnye, hogy a herezacskó színe és elaszticitása a hímvesszőbőréhez hasonló, a tapintás- és erogén érzet megmarad. A kétüléses hímvesszőbőr-helyreállítás kevés szövődménnyel, plasztikai sebészeti jártasság nélkül elvégezhető. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(35): 1413–1417. Summary. Introduction: Subcutaneous injection of liquid fatty materials to enhance penile girth induce sclerosing lipogranuloma of the penis. In spite of its well known severe consequences there has been a persistent use of this practice in non-medical circumstances. Objective: The aim of this paper is to present our observations with staged penile skin reconstruction for sclerosing lipogranuloma and to evaluate postoperative complications in a retrospective manner. Method: Between 2008 and 2020, 17 patients underwent surgery to treat sclerosing lipogranuloma of the penis by staged penile skin reconstruction at our department. Complete exscision of the involved tissue was performed, then the denuded penile shaft was inserted into a subcutaneous channel on the anterior side of the scrotum during the first stage. The second stage of reconstruction consisted of releasing the penile shaft from the scrotum. The second stage was performed merely on 9 in 17 patients. Results: According to the Clavien–Dindo classification system, 3 grade I and 1 grade I complications occurred in the postoperative period after the first and second stage, respectively. Grade II–V complications were not observed. 7 of 9 patients who underwent both stages were satisfied with the final result, 2 patients had minor correction surgery 6 months and 9 years following the second stage. 1 of 8 patients who underwent only the first stage had minor correction surgery 4 months following the operation. Conclusion: In case of sclerosing lipogranuloma of the penis, excision of the affected tissue and reconstruction of the penile skin are indicated. Advantages of using scrotal skin flaps are that colour and elasticity of the scrotal skin are similar to penile skin, erogenous sensation of the scrotal flap remains intact. Applying staged penile skin reconstruction with scrotal skin flap has the advantage of few postoperative complications and it is easy to perform. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(35): 1413–1417.

Giant Inguinoscrotal hernia -a radiological perspective

Inguinal hernia is a common surgical disease. Giant inguinoscrotal hernias are more unusual and impose significant impact on quality of life including difficulty with mobility, scrotal skin ulceration and bowel obstruction. Besides it is more challenging in terms of surgical management. Diagnosis of giant inguinoscrotal hernia is straight forward on clinical examination. Nevertheless, with the advent of CT scan, pre-operative contrast-enhanced CT scan is useful for ascertaining the hernia contents, its configuration and measuring the neck of hernia. We report a case of a patient with extremely huge irreducible right giant inguinoscrotal hernias.