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Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is an exfoliative dermatitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection. In contrast to infants, it is rarely observed in adults. SSSS in adults usually occurs in predisposed individuals such as those with renal failure or immunodeficiency, but has also been reported in otherwise healthy subjects. The reported mortality rate in adults is usually high because of serious underlying disease.We report a case of SSSS in a young female patient with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, who survived this potentially lethal complication.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of SSSS in an adult patient with T-lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Clinicians should be aware of SSSS as a rare but potentially fatal disorder, particularly in adult patients with malignancies undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.

oxicam 15 mg/day for 21 months, showing little inflammatory activity of the RA when she complained about impaired nasal breathing and a tumour-like lesion of the nasal wing. Computed tomography showed a mass in the nasal septum (fig. 1). Histologic examination revealed LYG II°. EBV-nuclear-IgG and EBV-capsid-IgG were positive whereas EBV-capsid-IgM was negative, consistent with prior but not acute EBV infection. MTX was discontinued immediately. Since IFN-α has been implicated in the activation of arthritis [7], we felt reluctant to its use. However, CHOP seemed too aggressive in this elderly patient with low-grade LYG. Because of its effectiveness in the treatment of B cell lymphoma as well as RA, we decided to give 4 doses of mabthera 375 mg/m weekly. Complete remission (CR) of LYG was confirmed 4 weeks after the last dose. 19 months later, the patient was in ongoing CR of LYG and shows no clinical signs of active RA under sulfasalazine 2000 mg/day.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common malignancy in children, but rarely occurs in adults. Accepted unfavourable prognostic factors include age1 year, low histologic grade and advanced stage, MYCN amplification, chromosomal aberrations, elevations of neuron specific enolase and lactate dehydrogenase, and increased catecholamine metabolites in urine or serum. In adults, abdomen/retroperitoneum are the primary sites and in children the adrenal gland.A 51- year-old man was admitted to our hospital with hypertension and a large right retroperitoneal mass. Clinically, phaeochromocytoma was suspected. Tumour resection revealed adrenal NB grade III. Chemotherapy according to the paediatric German Neuroblastoma Trial (NB97) was started. Follow-up computed tomography showed regression of the enlarged mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Because of local and systemic progression palliative radiochemotherapy was started. The patient died 9 months after diagnosis.To the best of our knowledge this is the oldest NB patient registered so far in Germany. Currently there are no standard treatment guidelines for patients with NB in adulthood. Collection and evaluation of data in adult patients with this tumour are warranted in order to optimise treatment strategies.