The Most Interesting Medical Cases in Dermatology

Healthcare professionals share content every day in Figure 1. Here are the top five most interesting medical cases in dermatology trending within the community.

#5. A Child’s Non-Uniform Growths 

At #5 for the most interesting medical cases in dermatology is this 7-year-old male who presented with non-uniform growths on one side of his face that are described as hard and rough to the touch. No itching or pain reported. Condition has persisted for six months. Older sibling had similar growths but they resolved without intervention. 

What is your diagnosis and treatment recommendation? Leave your comment on this case.

#4. Recommendations for Circular Lesion

This circular lesion appeared on an 11 year old with no history of eczema. The lesion is intensely pruritic. The pediatrician and Figure 1 member who shared this case identified the differentials as granuloma annulare or nummular eczema, but the majority of commenters have a different diagnosis. 

What do you think is the cause of this lesion? View the case images and sign in to see the comments.

Watch a break down of the history of hidradenitis suppurativa, its pathology and symptoms, staging of severity, causes and epidemiology, and how to treat patients with this condition.

#3. Acne-like Skin Rash in an Adult

In the #3 most interesting medical case in dermatology, a 45-year-old male has experienced this scarring skin eruption since about 12 years old. The acne-like rash is mostly on his back, with relatively sharp demarcation. The physician and Figure 1 member who shared this case added these details, “This responded to tretinoin but he stopped due to side effects. He is worried the same would happen if restarted. Zinc did not help. Current depression and sleep problems, psychiatrist prescribed vortioxetine 20 mg plus melatonin for ‘delayed sleep syndrome.’ Also methylphenidate when working (ADHD since childhood).” 

What’s your diagnosis? View the full case and leave your comments.

#2. Best Treatment Options for Keloids

A 36-year-old male presented to his pharmacist requesting triamcinolone cream for his keloids. Patient has a 7-year history, which started out as bumps from shaving. Patient shared that he went to a surgeon who recommended surgical care, but patient is hesitant to have surgery and expresses concern that the keloids could reappear following surgery. The pharmacist and Figure 1 member who shared the case added, “He’s had the keloids injected with triamcinolone a couple of times with no significant improvement. No significant pmhx, family hx of keloids (father). Patient complains of occasional pains and discomforting itch on the lesion.” 

What is your recommendation for management of this patient’s keloids? View the case and share your comments.

#1. Multiple Cellulitis or Something Else?

Most Interesting Medical Cases in Dermatology

Our #1 most interesting medical case in dermatology comes from a Figure 1 member physician specializing in infectious disease. He shared this about the case: “A 68-year-old male with acute illness which started 10 days ago noticed redness of his right knee without other symptoms. During same day in the night, he started to feel pain in his right shoulder, and shortly after that he noticed redness in the front of that joint and started to feel pain in this area. Soon after that he spiked fever up to 39°C, and he noticed neck and supraclavicular pits swelling which started to be painful. Also, he started to feel pain in his left knee which also become red. 

“He was examined few days later and he was given antibiotics for presumed cellulitis. He was taking medicine, but beside defervescence and slight reduced swelling of the right shoulder, he didn’t notice any improvement. Now he is coming for pain in all his body, most prominently in the upper part of the body, and in the right shoulder which has reduced movement because of pain. In the area of his left knee redness there is now something that looks like skin abscess.”

What’s your differential diagnosis? View the full case details.

Published May 9, 2022


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