Malignant Diseases of Skin
 
1. Bowen's disease refers to a carcinoma in situ on sun-exposed skin or on the vulva, glans a penis, or oral mucosa which has an association, in some cases, with a visceral malignancy.
2. Skin cancers associated with ultraviolet light damage include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
3. A basal cell carcinoma is the MC malignant tumor of the skin and occurs on sunexposed, hair-bearing surfaces.
 - Locally aggressive, infiltrating cancers arising from the basal cell layer of the epidermis and infiltrate the underlying superficial dermis.
 - they do not metastasize
 - BCC are commonly located on the face on the inner aspect of the nose, around the orbit and the upper lip where they appear as raised nodules containing a central crater with a pearly-colored skin surface and vascular channels.
 - microscopically, they have cords of basophilic staining cells originating from the basal cell layer infiltrating the dermis.
 - they commonly recur if they are not totally excised, because they are frequently multifocal. 
- the basal cell nevus syndrome is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by the development of basal cell carcinomas early in life with associated abnormalities of bone, skin, nervous system, eyes, and reproductive system. 

Megaloblastic anaemia

Metabolism: B12(cyanocobalamin) is a coenzyme in DNA synthesis and for maintenance of nervous system. Daily requirement 2 micro grams. Absorption in terminal ileum in the presence gastric intrinsic factor. It is stored in liver mainly-

Folic acid (Pteroylglutamic acid) is needed for DNA synthesis.. Daily requirement 100 micro grams. Absorption in duodenum  and jejunum

Causes of deficiency .-

- Nutritional deficiency-
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Pernicious anaemia (B12).
- Gastrectomy (B12).
- Fish tapeworm infestation (B12).
- Pregnancy and puerperium (Folic acid mainly).
- Myeloproliferative disorders (Folic acid).
- Malignancies (Folic acid).
- Drug induced (Folic-acid)

Features:

(i) Megaloblastic anaemia.
(ii) Glossitis.
(iii) Subacute combined degeneration (in B12deficiency).

Blood picture :

- Macrocytic normochromic anaemia.
- Anisocytosis and poikilocytosis with Howell-Jolly bodies and  basophilic stippling.
- Occasional megalo blasts may be-seen.
- Neutropenia with hypersegmented neutrophills and macropolycytes.
- Thrombocytopenia.
- Increased MVC and MCH with normal or decreased MCHC.

Bone marrow:

- Megaloblasts are seen. They are larger with a more open stippled chromatin. The nuclear maturation lags behind. the cytoplasmic maturation. Maturation arrest is seen (more of early forms).
- Immature cells of granulocyte series are also larger.
 -Giant stab forms (giant metamyelocytes).
 

Connective tissue diseases
Marfan’s syndrome
a. Genetic transmission: autosomal dominant.
b. Characterized by a defective microfibril glycoprotein, fibrillin.
c. Clinical findings include tall stature, joints that can be hyperextended, and cardiovascular defects, including mitral valve prolapse and dilation of the ascending aorta.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
a. Genetic transmission: autosomal dominant or recessive.
b. This group of diseases is characterized by defects in collagen.
c. Clinical findings include hypermobile joints and highly stretchable skin. The skin also bruises easily. Oral findings include Gorlin’s sign and possible temporomandibular joint (TMJ) subluxation. 
The oral mucosa may also appear more fragile and vulnerable to trauma. 

Lysosomal (lipid) storage diseases
- Genetic transmission: autosomal recessive.
- This group of diseases is characterized by a deficiency of a particular lysosomal enzyme. This results in an accumulation of the metabolite, which would have otherwise been degraded by the presence of normal levels of this specific enzyme.

Diseases include:
Gaucher’s disease
(1) Deficient enzyme: glucocerebrosidase.
(2) Metabolite that accumulates: glucocerebroside.
(3) Important cells affected: macrophages.

Tay-Sachs disease
(1) Deficient enzyme: hexosaminidase A.
(2) Metabolite that accumulates: GM2 ganglioside.
(3) Important cells affected: neurons.
(4) Symptoms include motor and mental deterioration, blindness, and dementia.
(5) Common in the Ashkenazi Jews.

Niemann-Pick disease
(1) Deficient enzyme: sphingomyelinase.
(2) Metabolite that accumulates: sphingomyelin.
(3) Important cells affected: neurons.

Leukaemias
Uncontrolled proliferation of leukocyte precursors (may be with associated red cell and platelet series proliferation).

Factors which may playa causal role are.
- Viral
- Radiation.
- Genetic.

Classification

1. Acule leukaemia:

a. Lymphocytic (lymphoblastic).
b. Myelocytic and promyelocytic (myeloblastic).
c. Monocytic.
d. Myelomonocytic.
e. Undifferentiated (Stem cell).

2. Chronic leukaemia:

a. Lymphocytic
b. Myelocytic

3. Miscellaneous:
a. Erythroleukaemia (De Guglielmo's disease).
b. Eosinophilic leukaemia.
c. Megakaryocytic leukaemia.

Autoimmune(acquired) Haemolytic anaemia

Auto antibodies are usually Ig g type (may be Ig M or Ig A). They may or may not bind complement and may be active in warm or cold temperature  They may be complete (agggIutinating) or incomplete. Haemolysis s may be intravascular  due to destruction of the antibody coated cells by RE system.

Causes:

a. Idiopathic
b. Secondary to
o    Drugs - Methyldopa, Mefanamic acid

o    Disease like
    -> Infections especially viral.
    -> Autoimmune disease especially SLE.
    -> Lymphomas and chronic  lymphatic leukaemia.
    -> Tumours.
    
Diagnosis : is based on

•    Evidences of haemolytic  anaemia.
•    Demonstration of antibodies

    - On red cell surface by direct Coomb’s test
    - In serum by indirect Coomb’s test.