History & Terminology
Bubo (inflammed lymph node): remembering the plague
Monday, November 3rd, 2014The term comes from Greek: βoυβớν = boubon = swelling of the inguinal glande In other words it is an adenopathy of inguinal lymph mode – also called bubon. Today the term is less and less used probably because Hippocrates (of Kos) described it for thé plague, which was prevalent in Ancient Times. The bubo […]
Adenoma Sebaceum in Tuberous Sclerosis: A misnomer !
Monday, November 3rd, 2014Adenoma Sebaceum refers to lesions on the face described in 1890 by the British dermatologist Dr John James Pringle (1855-1922). Adenoma Sebaceum is a misnomer, the lesions are actually angiofibromas – which is closer to Koenen’s tumors which are peringual fibromas. The facial lesions are neither adenomas, nor sebaceous in origin. Multiple “real” sebacous adenomas […]
Topical steroids in dermatology: the story behind it
Wednesday, October 29th, 2014The use of steroids in dermatology was initiated by two American New-York based dermatologists: Marion Sulzberger and Victor Witten. Topical steroids: early topical preparations containing cortisone acetate were surprisingly ineffective HYDROcortisone acetate was made available (“Compound F” by Merck): It was combined 25mg/g with an ointment base…and became moderately effective initially for Atopic Dermatitis. Results […]
MOHS surgery: an abbreviation of what ?
Wednesday, October 29th, 2014Well actually a joke but many of us don’t know that Mohs is actually a general surgeon. Dr Frederick E. Mohs (1910-2002), was an American physician and surgeon from WISCONSIN who developed migrographic surgery This “microscopically controlled method of cancer excision” was published in 1941. It a technique, which is used to remove skin neoplasms […]
Papules, pustules, vesicles..where does this come from ?
Tuesday, October 28th, 2014Description of primary and secondary lesions is the ground for modern dermatology and the classification of skin diseases. From 1798 to 1808, different parts of a book called “On cutaneous diseases” was published by the British dermatologist Dr Robert Willan (1757-1812) He also described erythema infectiosum occuring in childhood. The disease is also known as […]
Squamous Cell carcinoma in Situ: who was Bowen ?
Tuesday, October 28th, 2014Squamous cell carcinoma in situ was described in 1912 as a precancerous dermatosis by Dr John Templeton Bowen (1857-1940) He was an American Dermatologist graduated from Harvard and was a Professor of Dermatology. He trained abroad in Germany and Austria. Descriptions from him also include Bowenoid papulosis On a personal basis, he was shy and […]
Porrigo : have you heard this (If not it’s normal !)
Saturday, October 25th, 2014The word comes from latin: Porrigere = to extend If one looks in old dermatology textbooks which includes Alibert’s (1768-1837) famous atlas; on will surely stumble upon this term. By trying to find the skin condition corresponding to this term, one quickly realizes that there is a great confusion surrounding this word. Willan and Bateman […]
Pachyderma: what does it mean ?
Saturday, October 25th, 2014The Greek words of origin are: παχυς= pachus = thick δερμα = derma = skin “Pachyderm” refers to a family of mammals with thickened skin and includes the elephant, hippopotamus and rhinoceros. “Pachys” is frequently used in medical terminology: a lot of human organs can thicken: skull, meninges, spine, lungs, heart, peritoneum… In dermatology the […]
Degos Disease (Atrophic Malignant Papulosis): who was he ?
Saturday, October 25th, 2014Atrophic Malignant Papulosis was described in 1942 by the Parisian dermatologist Dr. Robert Degos (1904-1987) en 1942 in a 49 year old plumber. Biopsies were examined by Dr Achille Civatte and showed marked epidermal atrophy with absence of infiltrate in the dermis, with vascular changes leading to thrombosis. Although extremely rare, Degos was thereafter able […]
Lichen: from the botanical garden to dermatology
Friday, October 24th, 2014The greek word from which this term comes from is : λειχην = leichen = lichen (dartrous) This denomination was given following botanics, to describe dermatoses defined by a gathering of papules or elevated lesions (plaques) which resemble lichen (or dartrous-like) On the famous tree of dermatoses by Alibert in 1828, dartrous (lichen-like) dermatosis figure […]
