Norwegian Scabies Infestation

Abstract: An 84-year-old elderly woman with 3 months history of pruritic skin eruption

History: The patient is an 84-year-old nursing home resident who presents for evaluation  of pruritic skin eruption for the past three months. She first noted pruritic lesions on her hands when she was in a hospital for a back surgery. Since then her skin was progressively worsening and the eruption spread to her face, arms, abdomen and legs. She notes she was getting thick scales in the involved areas. She has chronic back pain and has gone through several operations past 3 months. Her other medical history includes congestive heart failure, hypertension, and COPD. Due to pain and her recent skin eruption, she has been taking prednisone, hydromorphone, doxepin, and Ativan. She feels sedated and confused at times. The patient is with her daughter who had significant contact and similar symptoms.

Clinical photos:

O/E: The skin exam shows a somewhat sleepy, but oriented, elderly woman in a wheelchair with yellow to green thick scaly plaques on the hands, forearms, elbows,  face,  ears, abdomen and legs. Dermoscopic evaluation shows multiple triangle jet signs with burrows. Scraping prep with mineral oil showed multiple scabies mites. Photo shows a portion of a 10X field on which 11 mites were seen.

Diagnosis: Norwegian scabies

Questions: We'd appreciate your recommendations on this patient's care. 

Discussion: Crusted Norwegian scabies is an uncommon hyperkeratotic variant of scabies infestation. Norwegian scabies are known to be as opportunistic pathogens. Our patient has been under significant stress physically and emotionally due to recent back surgeries and her skin eruption has progressed under the eyes of a medical staff.  Her medications contributed to the development of Norwegian scabies by suppressing her immune response (prednisone) and blunting her itch perception (Dilaudid, doxepin and Ativan).  In a way, this was a perfect storm.   Due to severity of involvement, the patient will be treated with oral ivermectin 200 micrograms per kilogram weekly for 3 weeks and permethrin 5% cream weekly for 4 - 5 weeks. Her daughter and all close family members will be also treated with topical medication. The nursing home will be informed.  It is estimated that the mite load of patients with Norwegian scabies can be as high as 15 million which accounts for the  highly contagious nature of this variant.  All of the staff and residents of her nursing home should receive scabies treatment.

References:
1. Towersey L, Cunha MX, Feldman CA, et al. Dermoscopy of Norwegian scabies in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85(2):221-223

2. Problems in diagnosing scabies, a global disease in human and animal populations.

Walton SF, Currie BJ.  Clin Microbiol Rev. 2007 Apr;20(2):268-79.  Excellent review, available open access fulltext.

3. Reflectance confocal microscopy for quantification of Sarcoptes scabiei in Norwegian scabies. Cinotti E, Perrot JL, et. al J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Feb;27(2):e176-8.  PubMed listing.

Complicated Speckled Lentiginous Nevus

Presented by Yoon Cohen, D.O.
Alta Dermatology
Mesa, Arizona

Abstract: An 8-year-old girl with large congenital nevus on the chin, the anterior neck and the right aspect of shoulder and the chest

History: The patient is an 8-year-old girl who was born with congenital nevi on the mid anterior neck and possibly another similar lesion over the right side of the mandible. Over the years, she has developed many 1-3 mm in diagmeter tan papules in and around the chin and submental region. She was seen recently for follow up. Her nevus is slowly maturing but still benign in appearance and there are no outlier lesions in the large defect. Some of the tumor is bilateral.

Clinical photo:

O/E: The skin examination shows a healthy, pleasant child with numerous scattered 1 to 3 mm brown macules and papules in a background of light tan pigmentation on the chin, the anterior neck and the right aspect of the upper chest. There is a well marginated 25 mm in diameter brown patch on the lower mid anterior neck. There is a 3.5 x 4.0 cm hypopigmented patch on the right shoulder

Diagnosis: Complicated Speckled Lentiginous Nevus (SLN)

Questions: Please share your experiences in managing patients with SLN similar conditions.  Do you feel there is a concern that this lesion may undergo malignant transformation.  What do you think of the hypopigmented area?

Discussion: A speckled lentiginous nevus (SLN, Nevus Spilus) can be a congenital or acquired pigmented lesion. More recently arguments are in favor of speckled lentiginous nevi as subtype of congenital nevi including the following observations: frequent presence at birth or noted soon therafter; patterns of distribution reflecting embryonic development; hamartomatous behavior with various types of nevi; and histologic features of congenital melanocytic nevi within the lesions. There are two types of speckled lentiginous nevus -- Nevus spilus maculosus and nevus spilus papulosus. The macular type is characterized by dark speckles that are completely flat and rather evenly distributed on a light brown background, resembling a polka-dot pattern. In contrast, nevus spilus papulosus is defined by dark papules that are of different sizes and rather unevenly distributed, reminiscent of a star map. Perhaps, the most pressing concern is its potential malignant transformation. The propensity to develop Spitz nevi appears to be the same in both types of speckled lentiginous nevus whereas the development of malignant melanoma has been reported far more commonly in nevus spilus maculosus. Torchia and her colleague argue that malignant transformation of melanocytes might occur in SNL not because the hyperpigmented background features any specific procarcinogenic abnormality but because there are more melanocytes with SNL, yielding a slightly higher likelihood of developing any type of melanomcytic lesion. It is our best interest that we monitor our patients with SNL pediodically to detect any early signs of malignant transformation.

References:
1. Happle R. Speckled lentiginous naevus: which of the two disorders do you mean? Clin Exp Dermatol. 2008;34:133-135
2. Paraskevas LR, Halpern AC, Marghoob AA. Utility of the Wood's light: five cases from a pigmented lesion clinic. Br J Dermatol. 2005 May; 152(5): 1039-44
3. Menon K. Dusza SW, Marghoob AA, et al. Classification and prevalence of pigmented lesions in patients with total body photographs at high risk of developing melanoma. J Cutan Med Surg. 2006 Mar-Apr; 10(2):85-91
4. Schaffer J. Orlow S, Lazova R, et al. Speckled Lentiginous Nevus Within the Spectrum of Congenital Melanocytic Nevi. Arch Dermatol. 2001; 137:172-78
5. Torchia D. Schachner L. Is speckled lentiginous nevus really prone to dysplasia/neoplasia? Pediatr Dermatol. 2012 Jul-Aug; 29(4):546-7

Comments:
1. Dr. Ashfaq Marghoob: 
These patients (SLN of maculosa type) are at slightly higher risk for developing MM. Continued surveillance for focal change is what I do for these patients.

2. Dr. Rudolph Happle:
Thank you very much for letting me see this interesting case! Apparently, this is a classical example of papular SLN (papular nevus spilus).  Why is your diagnosis "Complicated SLN"? I would call this a complicated case if a melanoma would develop, but the risk is rather low because It's not a macular nevus spilus.

3. Dr. Harper Price: 

Thank you for sharing this interesting case.  It does look very classic for a SLN.

The risk of malignant transformation is very low and likely starts at puberty so I would follow her yearly and if there was a lot of change, even more frequently and use photography to help.  These SLN can have many other nevi within in as stated, including Spitz and blue nevi.

Hers looks quite good and not worrisome.  The area of hypopigmentation, if new, may represent vitiligo or if present early on, a hypochromic nevis (“twin spotting”).

These SNL certainly carry a much lower risk than a typical congenital melanocytic nevus of this size for melanoma development. 
Lifelong follow-up is my recommendation