Melanoma clinicopathological groups characterized and compared with dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) correlations between morphologic groups of melanoma have not yet been described. OBJECTIVE: Describe and compare dermoscopic and RCM features of cutaneous melanomas with histopathological confirmation. METHODS: Single center, retrospective analysis of consecutive melanomas evaluated with RCM (2015-2019). Lesions were clinically classified as typical, nevus-like, amelanotic/nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC)-like, seborrheic keratosis (SK)-like and lentigo/lentigo maligna (LM)-like. Presence or absence of common facial and nonfacial melanoma dermoscopic and RCM patterns were recorded. Clusters were compared with typical lesions by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 583 melanoma lesions, significant differences between clusters were evident (compared to typical lesions). Observation of dermoscopic features (>50% of lesions) in amelanotic/NMSC-like lesions consistently displayed 3 patterns (atypical network, atypical vascular pattern + regression structures), and nevus-like and SK-like lesions and lentigo/LM-like lesions consistently displayed 2 patterns (atypical network + regression structures, and nonevident follicles + heavy pigmentation intensity). Differences were less evident with RCM, as almost all lesions were consistent with melanoma diagnosis. LIMITATIONS: Small SK-like lesions sample, single RCM analyses (no reproduction of outcome). CONCLUSION: RCM has the potential to augment our ability to consistently and accurately diagnose melanoma independently of clinical and dermoscopic features.

Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of multiple lentigines and precise diagnosis in four Chinese families with multiple lentigines.

Lentigines are well-defined, small, brown macules resulting from the accumulation of melanin content in the basement membrane zone with an increase in the number of melanocytes. Hereditary multiple lentigines (ML) can be associated with multiple genes and are not commonly encountered in clinical practice. Patients can solely have skin involvement or present with multisystemic deformative phenotypes. This study aimed to describe four unrelated Chinese families presenting with ML as their first visit symptom. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing on all patients and immediate family members for precise molecular diagnosis. Two novel variants c.1548 T > A (p.Ser516Arg) and c.1811C > A (p.Thr604Lys) in SASH1, and two recurrent variants c.1403C > T (p.Thr468Met) and c.1493G > T (p.Arg498Leu) in PTPN11, were identified in these four families. We also summarized the genes associated with ML and differential diagnosis of pigment abnormality. We suggested that the molecular diagnosis of ML should be emphasized because it can help in the clinical differential diagnosis and further genetic counseling and prognosis.

Odyssey toward an understanding of acquired postinflammatory lentiginosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acquired postinflammatory lentiginosis is a phenomenon that has been previously termed 'induction of lentiginosis in assorted dermatoses' or the ILIAD phenomenon. RECENT FINDINGS: Although some cases have been described as arising exclusively in those who applied topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), other patients have presented with similar findings in other nonatopic disorders (contact dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen planus, focal dermal hypoplasia), and without antecedent use of TCIs. SUMMARY: Inflammatory skin disorders can produce localized areas of cutaneous lentiginosis, particularly as the inflammation retreats in response to treatment. This post-inflammatory lentiginosis or ILIAD phenomenon may be potentiated by use of topical and systemic anti-inflammatory medications, including TCIs, topical corticosteroids, methotrexate, and systemic biologic agents. Although this phenomenon has not been associated with melanocytic neoplasia, ongoing periodic monitoring for dysplastic changes is reasonable.

Caracterización clínico-epidemiológica de pacientes con daño actínico crónico. Cochabamba, Bolivia / Clinical-epidemiological characterization of patients with chronic actinic damage. Cochabamba, Bolivia

RESUMEN Introducción: el daño actínico crónico es un grupo de alteraciones en la estructura, función y apariencia de la piel como resultado de la exposición no controlada a las radiaciones ultravioletas. Puede provocar el cáncer de piel. Objetivo: caracterizar a los pacientes con daño actínico crónico, atendidos en la consulta de Dermatología del Hospital Comunitario Valle Hermoso, en el departamento de Cochabamba, Bolivia. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio clínico descriptivo, prospectivo, en un universo de 1 833 pacientes diagnosticados con daño actínico crónico, atendidos en la consulta de Dermatología del Hospital Comunitario Valle Hermoso, en Cochabamba, entre septiembre de 2017 y septiembre de 2018. Se evaluaron las variables edad, sexo, color y fototipo de piel, ocupación, uso de medios de protección solar, exposición a otro tipo de radiaciones, manifestaciones clínicas de fotodaño y altitud del lugar de residencia. Resultados: predominaron el grupo de edad de 25 a 59 años, el sexo femenino, el color de piel mestizo (77,08 %), el fototipo de piel IV (76,98 %) y la ocupación comerciante (72,56 %). La mayoría de los pacientes (82,7 %) no utilizaron medios de protección solar, y el 99,8 % no tuvieron exposición a otro tipo de radiaciones. Las lesiones por fotodaño que prevalecieron fueron melasma (83,03 %) y lentigos (12,22 %). El 99,29 % vivían en zonas de gran altitud. Conclusiones: se caracterizaron los pacientes con daño actínico crónico, obteniendo en algunas variables estudiadas resultados similares a los mencionados por otros investigadores (AU).

ABSTRACT Introduction: chronic actinic damage is a group of alterations in the structure, function, and appearance of the skin as a result of uncontrolled exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It can cause skin cancer. Objective: to characterize the patients with chronic actinic damage, treated at the Dermatology consultation of Valle Hermoso Community Hospital, in the department of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Materials and methods: a descriptive, prospective clinical study was conducted in a universe of 1,833 patients diagnosed with chronic actinic damage, treated at the Dermatology clinic of the Valle Hermoso Community Hospital, Cochabamba, between September 2017 and September 2018. The variables age, sex, skin color, skin phototype, occupation, use of sun protectors, exposure to other types of radiation, clinical manifestations of photodamage and altitude of the place of residence were evaluated. Results: the age group from 25 to 59 years, the female sex, mestizo skin color (77.08 %), the IV skin phototype (76.98 %) and merchant occupation (72.56 %) predominated. Most patients (82.7 %) did not use sun protection means, and 99.8 % had no other radiation exposure. The prevailing photodamage lesions were melasma (83.03 %) and lentigo (12.22 %). 99.29 % lived in high altitude areas. Conclusions: the patients with chronic actinic damage were characterized, obtaining in some variables studied results similar to those mentioned by other researchers (AU).

Partial unilateral lentiginosis: a clinicopathological analysis of 32 cases on the head and neck area in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Partial unilateral lentiginosis (PUL) is a rare acquired circumscribed hyperpigmentation characterized by multiple simple lentigines involving half of the body. Since the previous studies of PUL were mostly based on case reports and the current literature lacks well-designed retrospective studies that involve a large number of cases, PUL is not a well-defined entity, and differential diagnosis with nevus spilus is still difficult. This study aims to evaluate clinical and histopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of PUL on head and neck area of Koreans. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with PUL on head and neck area were diagnosed clinicohistopathologically at the Asan Medical Center from 2004 to 2017. Their medical records, photographs, and biopsy specimens were reviewed, and immunohistochemical staining for protein kinase C (PKC)-ßΙΙ was evaluated for melanogenic activity. RESULTS: Four patients (12.5%) of PUL had congenital lesions, and 24 (75.0%) had age of onset younger than 10 years. Confluency of lentiginous lesions (100%) and mild to moderate background interlesional hyperpigmentation (90.6%) were observed. The lentiginous lesions showed increased melanocytes, melanophages, basal melanins, lentiginous hyperplasia, and perivascular inflammatory cells compared with background interlesional hyperpigmentation, and PKC-ßΙΙ was focally positive in 7 of 12 stained PUL lesions. Among the 16 patients who received laser treatments, 10 (62.5%) showed more than 50% of improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will allow for improved diagnosis of PUL and understanding of its features, which may facilitate proper management in the future.

Reflectance confocal microscopy: Diagnostic criteria of common benign and malignant neoplasms, dermoscopic and histopathologic correlates of key confocal criteria, and diagnostic algorithms.

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a high-resolution, noninvasive tool that is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for obtaining and interpreting images of the skin and cutaneous neoplasms with the goal of decreasing unnecessary biopsy procedures in patients with benign lesions. The second article in this continuing medical education series focuses on identifying key criteria for the diagnosis of common skin cancers-melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. We contrast these findings with RCM features of common benign lesions-melanocytic nevi, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, lichen planus-like keratosis, and sebaceous hyperplasia. We also correlate the dermoscopic and histopathologic findings with the RCM features.

A Prospective, Split-Face, Randomized Study Comparing Picosecond to Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser for Treatment of Epidermal and Dermal Pigmented Lesions in Asians.

BACKGROUND: Whether picosecond lasers outperform Q-switched lasers in treating pigmented lesions has not been clearly evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of picosecond and Q-switched lasers in treating epidermal and dermal pigmented lesions in Asians. METHODS: Eight subjects with lentigines and 6 subjects with acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules were enrolled. Subjects was randomly treated with a picosecond laser on one side of the face and a Q-switched laser on the other side. Subjective assessments on pigment clearance, and adverse effect were obtained at Weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24 after the final treatment. RESULTS: Clinical improvement differed between the 2 laser systems at Week 4 (p = .034), Week 12 (p = .039), and Week 24 (p = .027), with 85.7% of picosecond and 57.2% of Q-switched laser sites showing >50% improvement at 6 months. There was no significant difference in the incidence of side effect and healing time, but picosecond laser was significantly associated with a lower treatment discomfort (p = .05). CONCLUSION: The picosecond laser seems to be more effective and better tolerated than Q-switched laser for the treatment of pigmented lesions in Asians.

Cryopeeling versus trichloroacetic acid peeling in the treatment of solar lentigines: Effect on epidermal Langerhans cells.

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peeling may be effective in solar lentigines, but with concerns regarding potential tumorigenesis. Cryopeeling would be better with improving the whole sun-damaged skin. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of cryopeeling and TCA 35% peeling for treatment of solar lentigines and assess their influence on the number of epidermal Langerhans cells (LC). Twenty-five patients were treated with TCA 35% and cryopeeling on the right and left hands, respectively. Two sessions were done 3 weeks apart. Evaluations were scheduled at weeks 0, 3, and 6. Skin biopsies, taken before and after treatment, were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically for the number of CD1a + epidermal LCs. Lentigines decreased after cryopeeling from the first session (p < .001), but after the second session with TCA peeling (p = .004). Cryopeeling produced significant lightening, compared with TCA (p = .015). Blistering, hyper/hypopigmentation were reported with cryopeeling, whereas only hyperpigmentation was noted after TCA peeling. The LCs remained at about the pretreatment number after cryopeeling (p = .058), though they decreased after TCA (p = .002). Cryopeeling provided faster and superior improvement of lentigines compared with TCA peeling. Furthermore, TCA seems to suppress LCs raising the concern for carcinogenic potential.

Increased melanocytic nevi and lentigines in two patients with harlequin ichthyosis.

An increased number of melanocytic nevi and lentigines have been reported in patients with two types of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI): lamellar ichthyosis and nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. These melanocytic lesions may have clinical and dermoscopic features of atypia, necessitating close surveillance. Here, we report two interesting cases of pediatric patients with harlequin ichthyosis (HI) who developed increased melanocytic nevi and lentigines. These cases are unique in that the patients presented at a younger age and one patient had a darker skin phototype than previously described in the literature.

Dermoscopic Differentiation of Facial Lentigo Maligna from Pigmented Actinic Keratosis and Solar Lentigines.

The differential diagnosis of lentigo maligna (LM) from pigmented actinic keratosis (PAK) and solar lentigines (SL) remains a challenge for clinicians, especially in the early stages of LM when there are no distinctive dermoscopic features. Objective of this study was to evaluate the frequencies of selective dermoscopic criteria in LM, PAK, and SL and to find the specific combination of distinguishing dermoscopic criteria for LM. Dermoscopists blinded to histopathological diagnosis evaluated 42 LM, 107 PAK, and 16 SL for the presence of predefined dermoscopic criteria. The differences in the presence of dermoscopic criteria between LM and others were evaluated with the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with the forward conditional stepwise method were performed and odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for LM, PAK, and SL were calculated. LM, PAK, and SL showed many common dermoscopic findings. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, darkening at dermoscopic examination (sevenfold), gray circles (sevenfold), target-like pattern (sixfold), gray rhomboids (sixfold), and slate-gray dots/globules (threefold) represented the strongest predictors of LM, while hyperkeratosis (thirteenfold), white circles (twelvefold), and red rhomboids (sixfold) represented the strongest predictors of PAK. The dermoscopic diagnosis of a given lesion should be based on the presence of the combination of specific dermoscopic criteria rather than a single benign or malignant criterion. Our results suggest that the presence of darkening at dermoscopic examination, gray circles, target-like pattern, gray rhomboids, and slate-gray dots/globules should be considered supportive findings for the diagnosis of early LM.

Melanocyte Activation Mechanisms and Rational Therapeutic Treatments of Solar Lentigos.

To characterize the pathobiology of solar lentigos (SLs), analyses by semiquantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry revealed the upregulated expression of endothelin (EDN)-1/endothelin B receptors (EDNBRs), stem cell factor (SCF)/c-KIT, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α in the lesional epidermis, which contrasted with the downregulated expression of interleukin (IL) 1α. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that previous repeated UVB exposure triggers keratinocytes to continuously produce TNFα. TNFα then stimulates the secretion of EDNs and the production of SCF in an autocrine fashion, leading to the continuous melanogenic activation of neighboring melanocytes, which causes SLs. A clinical study of 36 patients with SLs for six months treated with an M. Chamomilla extract with a potent ability to abrogate the EDN1-induced increase in DNA synthesis and melanization of human melanocytes in culture revealed a significant improvement in pigment scores and color differences expressed as L values. Another clinical study using a tyrosinase inhibitor L-ascorbate-2-phosphate 3 Na (ASP) demonstrated that L values of test lotion (6% APS)-treated skin significantly increased in SLs and in non-lesional skin with a significantly higher ΔL value in SLs when compared with non-lesional skin. The sum of these findings strongly suggests that combined topical treatment with EDN signaling blockers and tyrosinase inhibitors is a desirable therapeutic choice for SLs.

Whitening effect of L-ascorbate-2-phosphate trisodium salt on solar lentigos.

Little is known about the anti-pigmenting effects of whitening agents on solar lentigos (SLs), which comprise ~ 60% of hyperpigmented facial lesions of Asian subjects. Lotions with or without 6% L-ascorbate-2-phosphate trisodium salt (APS) [test lotion (TL) and placebo lotion (PL), respectively] were applied twice daily for 24 weeks in a double-blind half-face study of 27 Japanese females with SLs on both sides of their faces. Pigmentation scores were evaluated using a photo-scale and the skin colors were assessed using a color difference meter and a mexameter for SLs and the non-lesional surrounding skin (NLS). Although the pigmentation scores were not significantly different between the TL and PL-treated SLs after 24 weeks, the L values of TL-treated SLs and NLS increased significantly with a significantly higher △L value in SLs than in NLS. In contrast, the L values of PL-treated SLs and NLS remained unchanged after the treatment. The number of subjects with > 2.0 △L was 7 of 27 (TL) and 0 of 27 (PL) in SLs and 3 of 27 (TL) and 0 of 27 (PS) in NLS. In contrast, the melanin index in TL-treated SLs and NLS significantly decreased with a significantly higher △melanin index in SLs than in NLS. Similarly, the melanin index of PL-treated SLs and NLS were significantly decreased with a significantly higher △melanin index in SLs than in NLS. These findings strongly indicate that APS has a weak but significant anti-pigmenting effect on SLs and a significant whitening effect even on normally pigmented healthy skin.