Real-life management of psoriasis with biological agents during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: French guidelines recommend stopping biologic treatment of psoriasis between 3 and 24 weeks before conception in accordance with the relevant Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the real-life practice of dermatologists in the management of pregnant women with psoriasis previously treated with biologic agents. We wished to assess the level of practitioner adherence to the relevant SmPCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a study in collaboration with GRPso and Resopso. A computerized questionnaire was completed by the practitioners. We performed descriptive statistics and studied the profile of the practitioners, their level of confidence with continuation of biological agents during pregnancy, and their reported practices on the use of biological agents in pregnancy. Statistical analyses were performed using XLSTAT. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 63 dermatologists (women: 71%; mean age 43.8 years) participated in this study, the majority of whom were hospital-based (87%). Recommendations were followed by 36.5% of practitioners, while 44% reported discontinuing biologic agents on diagnosis of pregnancy, and 20.5% reported using these agents during pregnancy. Among dermatologists with more than ten years of experience, 19% reported following the SmPC. Among dermatologists with a patient base >200 (patients treated with biologic agents for psoriasis), 19% reported following the SmPC compared to 54% of practitioners with less than 50 patients. The mean age of dermatologists following the SmPC was 41 years vs. 47 years for those not following the SmPC. DISCUSSION: The majority of practitioners do not follow recommendations on discontinuation of biologic agents before the planning of pregnancy by patients.

Safety and efficacy of the anti-PD1 immunotherapy with nivolumab in trichoblastic carcinomas.

Trichoblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant cutaneous adnexal tumor with a risk of local invasion and distant metastasis. As of today, there is no consensus for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic trichoblastic carcinoma. "AcSé Nivolumab" is a multi-center Phase II basket clinical trial (NCT03012581) evaluating the safety and efficacy of nivolumab in several cohorts of rare, advanced cancers. Here we report the results of nivolumab in patients with trichoblastic carcinoma. Of the eleven patients enrolled in the study, five patients had been previously treated by sonic hedgehog inhibitors. The primary endpoint 12-week objective response rate was 9.1% (N = 1/11) with 1 partial response. Six patients who progressed under previous lines of treatment showed stable disease at 12 weeks, reflecting a good control of the disease with nivolumab. Furthermore, 54.5% of the patients (N = 6/11) had their disease under control at 6 months. The 1-year overall survival was 80%, and the median progression-free survival was 8.4 months (95%CI, 5.7 to NA). With 2 responders (2 complete responses), the best response rate to nivolumab at any time was 18.2% (95%CI, 2.3-51.8%). No new safety signals were identified, and adverse events observed herein were previously described and well known with nivolumab monotherapy. These results are promising, suggesting that nivolumab might be an option for patients with advanced trichoblastic carcinomas. Further studies on larger cohorts are necessary to confirm these results and define the role of nivolumab in the treatment of trichoblastic carcinomas.

Effectiveness of mogamulizumab in patients with Mycosis Fungoides or Sézary syndrome: A multicentre, retrospective, real-world French study.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy and safety of mogamulizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against C-C chemokine receptor 4, were demonstrated in a previous multinational clinical trial conducted in patients with previously treated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL): Sézary syndrome (SS) or Mycosis Fungoides (MF). OBJECTIVES: The real-world French OMEGA study aimed to describe effectiveness and tolerability of mogamulizumab in adult patients with CTCL, overall and according to the disease (SS or MF). METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients treated with mogamulizumab for SS or MF were included from 14 French expert centres. The overall response rate (ORR) under treatment was described (primary criterion), as well as treatment use and safety data. RESULTS: The 122 analysed patients (69 SS, 53 MF) were aged 66.6 ± 12.1 years at mogamulizumab initiation, and their median disease duration was 2.5 years (IQR: 1.3-5.6). Prior to treatment start, they received a median of three systemic CTCL therapies (2-5). Overall, 77.8% of patients suffered from advanced disease (Stage IIB-IVB), with frequent blood (B1/B2) involvement (67.5%). Over the treatment period (median: 4.6 months, 2.1-7.2), 96.7% of patients received all the planned mogamulizumab infusions. Among the 109 patients evaluable for effectiveness, ORR was 58.7% (95% CI [48.9-68.1]) overall, 69.5% [56.1-80.8] in SS and 46.0% [31.8-60.7] in MF. Compartmental response in the blood was observed in 81.8% [69.1-90.9] of SS patients. Skin responses were observed in 57.0% [47.0-66.5] of patients overall, 66.7% [52.9-78.6] in SS and 46.0% [31.8-60.7] in MF. The most common serious adverse drug reactions were rash (8.1% of patients) and infusion-related reactions (2.4%) which led to treatment discontinuation in 7.3% and 0.8% of patients, respectively. One patient with SS died from mogamulizumab-related tumour lysis syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: This large French study confirmed the effectiveness and tolerability of mogamulizumab in SS and MF patients in routine medical practice.

Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of psoriasis with systemic therapies in France: Results from the PSOBIOTEQ cohort.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns among patients and physicians about the potential impact of immunosuppressive treatments for chronic diseases such as psoriasis on the risk of severe COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To describe treatment modifications and determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among psoriasis patients during the first wave of the pandemic, and identify the factors associated with these events. METHODS: Data from PSOBIOTEQ cohort relating to the first COVID-19 wave in France (March to June, 2020), as well as a patient-centred COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to evaluate the impact of lockdown on changes (discontinuations, delays or reductions) in systemic therapies, and to determine the incidence of COVID-19 cases among these patients. Logistic regression models were used to assess associated factors. RESULTS: Among the 1751 respondents (89.3%), 282 patients (16.9%) changed their systemic treatment for psoriasis, with 46.0% of these changes being initiated by the patients themselves. Patients were more likely to experience psoriasis flare-ups during the first wave if they changed their treatment during this period (58.7% vs 14.4%; P < 0.0001). Changes to systemic therapies were less frequent among patients with cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001), and those aged ≥ 65 years (P = 0.02). Overall, 45 patients (2.9%) reported having COVID-19, and eight (17.8%) required hospitalization. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were close contact with a positive case (P < 0.001) and living in a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Factors associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 were avoiding seeing a physician (P = 0.002), systematically wearing a mask during outings (P = 0.011) and being a current smoker (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuation of systemic psoriasis treatments during the first COVID-19 wave (16.9%) - mainly decided by patients themselves (46.0%) - was associated with a higher incidence of disease flares (58.7% vs 14.4%). This observation and factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 highlight the need to maintain and adapt patient-physician communication during health crises according to patient profiles, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary treatment discontinuations and ensuring that patients are informed about the risk of infection and the importance of complying with hygiene rules.

Evolution of bone metastases in patients receiving at least three months of checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the evolution of bone metastases in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included cancer patients with bone metastases treated with ICI at our institution between January 2014 and September 2019. Clinical and biological data were collected from medical records and independent expert review of imaging was performed. Target and non-target lesions were identified and followed up to 1 year. Patients were then classified as bone responder or non-responder. Comparisons between groups were performed with Student's t test or Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Among 1108 patients screened, 192 patients had bone metastases and 48 patients were included in the final analysis, with lung cancer, renal carcinoma and melanoma as most represented cancer type. Half of the patients experienced stability, condensation or peripheral sclerosis of bone lesions. Initial progression before stabilization with or without sclerosis of bone lesion occurred for 19% of patients (pseudoprogression). There was an association between bone response and global oncological outcomes. Bone responder patients had a significant decrease in morphine and co-analgesic prescription as well as a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatases compared to non-responder patients. CONCLUSION: Bone response was observed in half of patients with available imaging and follow-up after 3 months of ICI treatment, with sclerosis observed in one-third of bone lesions at month 3, in all tumor types. Up to 20% of patients experienced a pseudoprogression of bone lesions such as previously described in primary tumor and other metastatic sites. Bone response was associated with improvement of pain and survival.

Switches between biologics in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: results from the French cohort PSOBIOTEQ.

BACKGROUND: Biologics are the cornerstone of treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and switches between biologics are frequently needed to maintain clinical improvement over time. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to describe precisely switches between biologics and how their pattern changed over time with the recent availability of new biologic agents. METHODS: We included patients receiving a first biologic agent in the Psobioteq multicenter cohort of adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving systemic treatment. We described switches between biologics with chronograms, Sankey and Sunburst diagrams, assessed cumulative incidence of first switch by competing risks survival analysis and reasons for switching. We assessed the factors associated with the type of switch (intra-class - i.e. within the same therapeutic class - vs. inter-class) in patients switching from a TNF-alpha inhibitor using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2153 patients was included. The cumulative incidence of switches from first biologic was 34% at 3 years. Adalimumab and ustekinumab were the most prescribed biologic agents as first and second lines of treatment. The main reason for switching was loss of efficacy (72%), followed by adverse events (11%). Patients receiving a TNF-alpha inhibitor before 2016 mostly switched to ustekinumab, whereas those switching in 2016 or after mostly switched to an IL-17 inhibitor. Patients switching from a first-line TNF-alpha inhibitor before 2016 were more likely to switch to another TNF-alpha inhibitor compared with patients switching since 2018. Patients switching from etanercept were more likely to receive another TNF-alpha inhibitor rather than another therapeutic class of bDMARD compared with patients switching from adalimumab. CONCLUSION: This study described the switching patterns of biologic treatments and showed how they changed over time, due to the availability of the new biologic agents primarily IL-17 inhibitors.

From neglect to earlier diagnosis: a qualitative meta-synthesis of psycho-social factors associated with consultation delay in advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Local malignant potential of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can lead at advanced stages to the destruction of underlying tissues and significant morbidity. The primary risk factor for progression of advanced basal cell carcinoma (aBCC) is the long duration of the tumour, which results from delay in seeking medical care. To assess the implication of psycho-social factors in the delay before the first medical consultation among patients with aBCC, in order to identify potentially targetable factors enabling earlier diagnosis. Three-step qualitative meta-synthesis: (1) systematic review of the literature; (2) structured qualitative analysis of these documents; (3) construction of a logical model. After screening, 81 articles were included. Self-neglect and denial in patients are roundly put forward as the main obstacles to consultation. We found that avoidance behaviour, mistaken interpretation and banalisation of symptoms, and fear of treatment all played a role. The strongest motivation to seek help comes from the realisation that new symptoms may be dangerous; the role of interpersonal surroundings is highlighted as helpful. Patient delay has multifactorial origins in aBCC, especially self-neglect ranging from denial of tumours to conscious refusal of treatment.

Changes in total skin electron beam therapy modalities for mycosis fungoides: A single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a highly radiosensitive disease. Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is an effective option that may allow prolonged response for several months. Recently, a low-dose regimen (12 Gy) has been reported more frequently, with less complete response than for standard doses (36 Gy) but better safety. Our aim was to compare patients treated with 12-Gy and 36-40-Gy TSEBT regimens at our centre for efficacy and safety. METHODS: This retrospective, monocentric study in Bordeaux University Hospital included all MF patients treated with 12-Gy or 36-40-Gy TSEBT between 2011 and 2020. RESULTS: Patients presented with MF at the following stages: 15 T2, including 9 folliculotropic MF; 2 T3, including 1 folliculotropic; 8 T4, including 2 Sézary syndromes. The mean follow-up time after TSEBT was 43.5 months [range: 2-128] for the 36-40-Gy group and 25.2 months [range: 4-45] for the 12-Gy group. The 3-month overall response rate (ORR) was similar for both groups (84.6% for 36-40 Gy and 91.7% for 12 Gy), but there was a tendency to more complete response in the 36-40-Gy group (30.8% vs 8.3%, P=0.35). Progression-free survival (PFS) tended to be better in the 36-40-Gy group than in the low-dose group (15.7 months vs 5.3 months; P=0.28). Patients treated with low-dose TSEBT had a lower incidence of radiation dermatitis (16.7% vs 38.4%, P=0.42). CONCLUSION: We confirm that TSEBT is an effective option, including at lower doses. Differences between low- and standard-dose regimens were not significant in our series. Although a low-dose regimen seemed to result in lower complete response and long-term efficacy rates in comparison with a standard dose, treatment at lower doses presents the advantage of repeatability, with fewer and weaker side effects, in the event of disease recurrence. Second-line treatments were mostly skin-directed in this group.

Epidemiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Reunion Island.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of CMM in Reunion Island, a French overseas department whose population is characterized by high ethnic diversity and high exposure to ultraviolet radiation. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined all cases of in situ CMM and invasive CMM diagnosed between 1 January and 31 December 2015 in the Reunionese population. RESULTS: One hundred and three new cases of CMM were recorded in Reunion Island in 2015: 33 cases of in situ CMM and 70 cases of invasive CMM. The sex ratio of men to women was 1.3 and 80% of patients had a fair skin phototype (Fitzpatrick skin phototype≤III). Age-standardized incidence rates of invasive CMM for all skin phototypes combined were 6.7/100,000 person-years (PY) in women and 5.3/100,000 PY in men. Crude incidence rates of invasive CMM for fair skin phototypes were estimated to be over 21/100,000 PY in women and over 25/100,000 PY in men. CONCLUSIONS: In Reunion Island, the incidence of CMM in the population with fair skin phototype is very high. Primary and secondary prevention measures should be reinforced and tailored to the local context.

Clinical features associated with the invasive component in lentigo maligna of the head and neck: A retrospective study of 175 cases.

BACKGROUND: Lentigo maligna (LM) can develop into lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) with risk of metastatic dissemination. LMM may be underestimated on the basis of the initial biopsy. The invasion may affect both the therapeutic options and the prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To identify the clinical features associated with invasive forms of LM and factors associated with its recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective, single-centre study of consecutive LM and LMM histologically confirmed and treated by surgery between 2009 and 2014. RESULTS: In total, 175 patients with LM/LMM were surgically treated in our establishment. In men, lesions were more likely to be in the "peripheral zone" (41.8%), while in women they were seen more often in the "central zone" (P=0.001). In multivariate analysis, only the peripheral zone was found to be associated with a risk of invasion (P=0.008). The rate of recurrence was 9% and lesions were more likely to be primary LMM (P=0.0006) excised with clear margins. CONCLUSION: The treatment of choice in LM with non-clear margins must be re-excision, especially for lesions situated in the peripheral zone. Close follow-up is recommended due to risk of recurrence, even in the case of clear margins.

CITY-PSO: Prescribing behaviour of French private-practice dermatologists in psoriasis management: An observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding the prescribing behaviour of French private-practice dermatologists (PPDs) is scarce. OBJECTIVES: First, to describe the population of PPDs involved in psoriasis management. Second, to describe the population of adult patients treated for psoriasis and their management. METHODS: We published a call for participation targeting PPDs; we first asked respondents to complete a form regarding their prescribing behaviour, and then to include consecutive patients consulting for psoriasis during a one-month study period and to collect patient data. RESULTS: The 94 participating PPDs included 1022 patients of mean age 52.9±17.9 years. The average body mass index was 28, and 25% had vascular comorbidities. Two thirds of patients had chronic psoriasis, for which 45% had consulted at least 5 times. Psoriasis was mostly with plaques (70.8%) and 11.4% of patients had psoriatic arthritis. The average body surface area (BSA) affected was 10.1%. Among the 679 patients without initial systemic treatment, 159 were started on systemic treatment. The main agents initiated were phototherapy (n=63), methotrexate (n=40), acitretin (n=30) and apremilast (n=20). In multivariate analysis, a higher BSA [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.10, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.07-1.13; P<10-4] and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) [OR 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15; P=0.04] were associated with prescription of systemic therapy at the end of the consultation. CONCLUSION: The main limitation of our study was that participating PPDs were strongly involved in psoriasis management, which accounts for the high proportion of moderate-to-severe psoriasis and prescription of systemic treatments. Such committed PPDs and the development of psoriasis networks are key factors for improving the quality of care provided to psoriasis patients.

Relevance of body mass index as a predictor of systemic therapy outcomes in metastatic melanoma: analysis of the MelBase French cohort data☆.

BACKGROUND: The 'obesity paradox' suggests that higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with better survival values in metastatic melanoma patients, especially those receiving targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Higher BMI is also associated with higher incidences of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). This study assesses whether BMI is associated with survival outcomes and adverse events in metastatic melanoma patients with systemic therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicentric retrospective study, conducted from 1 March 2013 to 29 April 2019, enrolled adults with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma from the French multicentric prospective cohort-MelBase (NCT02828202). Patients with first-line chemotherapy and targeted and immune therapy were included. Underweight people and those with metastatic mucosal or ocular melanoma were excluded. BMI was categorized using the World Health Organization criteria. Co-primary outcomes included the association between BMI and progression-free survival and overall survival, stratified by treatment type, sex, and age. Secondary endpoints were the association of BMI with overall response and TRAEs. Multivariate analyses were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 1214 patients were analyzed. Their median age was 66.0 years (range, 53-75). Male predominance was observed [n = 738 (61%)]. Most patients received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (63%), followed by targeted therapy (32%), and had stage M1c disease (60.5%). Obese patients represented 22% of the cohort. The median follow-up duration was 13.5 months (range, 6.0-27.5). In the pooled analysis, no positive or negative association between BMI and progression-free survival (P = 0.88)/overall survival (P = 0.25) was observed, regardless of treatment type, sex, and age. These results were nonsignificant in the univariate and multivariate analyses. The objective response rate, according to BMI category, did not differ significantly regardless of age. TRAEs were not associated with BMI. CONCLUSION: The observed lack of an association between BMI and survival demonstrates that BMI is not a valuable marker of systemic treatment-related outcomes in metastatic melanoma. Future approaches might focus on the whole-body distribution.

Epidemiological changes in cutaneous lymphomas: an analysis of 8593 patients from the French Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) are a heterogeneous group of T-cell (CTCL) and B-cell (CBCL) malignancies. Little is known about their epidemiology at initial presentation in Europe and about potential changes over time. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the frequency of PCLs in the French Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry (GFELC) and to describe the demography of patients. METHODS: Patients with a centrally validated diagnosis of primary PCL, diagnosed between 2005 and 2019, were included. RESULTS: The calculated incidence was unprecedently high at 1·06 per 100 000 person-years. The number of included patients increased yearly. Most PCL subtypes were more frequent in male patients, diagnosed at a median age of 60 years. The relative frequency of rare CTCL remained stable, the proportion of classical mycosis fungoides (MF) decreased, and the frequency of its variants (e.g. folliculotropic MF) increased. Similar patterns were observed for CBCL; for example, the proportion of marginal-zone CBCL increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in PCL frequencies may be explained by the emergence of new diagnostic criteria and better description of the entities in the most recent PCL classification. Moreover, we propose that an algorithm should be developed to confirm the diagnosis of PCL by central validation of the cases.

Should we be imaging lymph nodes at initial diagnosis of early-stage mycosis fungoides? Results from the PROspective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (PROCLIPI) international study.

BACKGROUND: Early-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) includes involvement of dermatopathic lymph nodes (LNs) or early lymphomatous LNs. There is a lack of unanimity among current guidelines regarding the indications for initial staging imaging in early-stage presentation of MF in the absence of enlarged palpable LNs. OBJECTIVES: To investigate how often imaging is performed in patients with early-stage presentation of MF, to assess the yield of LN imaging, and to determine what disease characteristics promoted imaging. METHODS: A review of clinicopathologically confirmed newly diagnosed patients with cutaneous patch/plaque (T1/T2) MF from PROspective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (PROCLIPI) data. RESULTS: PROCLIPI enrolled 375 patients with stage T1/T2 MF: 304 with classical MF and 71 with folliculotropic MF. Imaging was performed in 169 patients (45%): 83 with computed tomography, 18 with positron emission tomography-computed tomography and 68 with ultrasound. Only nine of these (5%) had palpable enlarged (≥ 15 mm) LNs, with an over-representation of plaques, irrespectively of the 10% body surface area cutoff that distinguishes T1 from T2. Folliculotropic MF was not more frequently imaged than classical MF. Radiologically enlarged LNs (≥ 15 mm) were detected in 30 patients (18%); only seven had clinical lymphadenopathy. On multivariate analysis, plaque presentation was the sole parameter significantly associated with radiologically enlarged LNs. Imaging of only clinically enlarged LNs upstaged 4% of patients (seven of 169) to at least IIA, whereas nonselective imaging upstaged another 14% (24 of 169). LN biopsy, performed in eight of 30 patients, identified N3 (extensive lymphomatous involvement) in two and N1 (dermatopathic changes) in six. CONCLUSIONS: Physical examination was a poor determinant of LN enlargement or involvement. Presence of plaques was associated with a significant increase in identification of enlarged or involved LNs in patients with early-stage presentation of MF, which may be important when deciding who to image. Imaging increases the detection rate of stage IIA MF, and identifies rare cases of extensive lymphomatous nodes, upstaging them to advanced-stage IVA2.

Lymphomatoid papulosis types D and E: a multicentre series of the French Cutaneous Lymphomas Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) type D (LyP D) and type E (LyP E) have recently been described in small series of cases or isolated case reports. AIM: To further describe the clinical and histological features of LyP D and E based on a retrospective multicentre study. METHODS: The clinical and histopathological features of 29 patients with an initial diagnosis of LyP D or LyP E were retrospectively assessed using standardized forms. RESULTS: After exclusion of 5 cases, 24 patients (14 LyP D, 10 LyP E) were enrolled in the study. The median follow-up was 2.5 years (range 1 month to 13 years). LyP D was characterized by multiple recurrent self-regressing small papules that developed central erosion or necrosis, whereas LyP E presented as papulonodular lesions that rapidly evolved into necrotic eschar-like lesions > 10 mm in size. Epidermal changes were more frequent in LyP D, whereas dermal infiltrates were deeper in LyP E. Anaplastic cytology was rare and the DUSP22 rearrangement was never observed. Two patients (8%) had an associated cutaneous lymphoma. CONCLUSION: LyP D and E have distinct clinical findings and may be associated with other cutaneous lymphomas.

Surgical treatment of rhinophyma: Retrospective monocentric study and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of rhinophyma consists primarily of destructive procedures. There is currently no consensus regarding treatment. In this study, we propose an algorithm based on a cohort of 25 patients and a literature review. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted between January 2016 and December 2018. The cosmetic outcome was evaluated by 2 independent assessors based on pre- and postoperative photographs. Patients were ranked according to the severity (mild, moderate, severe) of their rhinophyma. The different surgical methods used were cold blade excision or rhinoshave, electrosurgery or monopolar diathermy knife (MDK), and carbon dioxide laser (CO2 laser), either alone or in combination with another technique. All patients were contacted after the procedure to evaluate their satisfaction and to investigate for adverse effects. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included retrospectively: 7 with mild rhinophyma (5 were treated by MDK, 1 by fractional CO2 laser, and 1 by cold-blade excision and TCA solution), 11 with moderate rhinophyma (2 were treated by MDK, 9 by continuous CO2 laser), and 7 with severe rhinophyma (2 were treated by MDK, 5 by MDK plus CO2 laser). Cosmetic outcomes were deemed good or excellent in 80% of cases, and 84% of patients were fully satisfied with the result. We observed 5 cases of hypertrophic scarring, 2 cases of hypopigmentation, 3 cases of notching of the nasal ala, and 7 cases of prolonged erythema, most of which were caused by the MDK technique. CONCLUSION: A wide range of treatment options are available for rhinophyma. We suggest the use of cold-blade excision and trichloroacetic acid or fractional carbon dioxide laser for mild rhinophyma, continuous and pulsed CO2 laser for moderate rhinophyma, and MDK for severe rhinophyma.

Clinicopathologic analysis of trichoblastoma and comparison with nodular basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Trichoblastoma (TB) is an uncommon benign follicular tumour for which clinical data is limited since most reports originate from pathology studies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical aspects of TB. METHODS: This is an ancillary study of a prospective multicentre cohort of 2710 clinically suspected basal cell carcinoma (BCC), including 935 nodular BCCs. Sixty-two cases were TB: they were analysed and compared to 935 nodular BCCs. RESULTS: TB mostly occurred in females (61% vs. 43% for BCC, P<0.01) of mean age 63 years. They were located on the head and neck, mainly on the nose and forehead, in 87% of cases. The mean size was 8.1mm, 77% were<10mm (55% of BCCs, P<0.001), 8% were ulcerated (vs. 21% of BCCs, P<0.02), and 47% persisted for more than 1 year (34% of BCCs, P<0.05). Most cases had a clinical presentation similar to nodular BCC, except for 5 small, flat, white papules and 1 anfractuous plaque. LIMITATIONS: Cases originated from a series of tumours clinically suspected as BCCs. DISCUSSION: Some 2.6% of tumours clinically diagnosed as BCC are in fact TB. TB occurs on the head, are more frequent in women, and are smaller and of longer duration than BCC. In most cases, clinical diagnosis on clinical grounds is difficult.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Children with psoriasis may have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and their illness may also have affected their ability to follow preventive measures. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with psoriasis. METHODS: A survey of children (<18 years) with psoriasis, conducted from June 10 to June 29, 2020. RESULTS: In total, 92 children were included: 71.7% had psoriasis lesions at the time of home lockdown while 45.2% were receiving systemic treatments, and two contracted COVID-19. During lockdown, psoriasis worsened in 47.3% of the children and 18.8% stopped their systemic treatments, mainly for reasons linked to the pandemic. A total of 41.3% had a consultation for psoriasis during lockdown (71.1% by teleconsultation): 39.5% due to worsening of their psoriasis and 21.1% for pandemic-related issues. Among patients not having a consultation during lockdown, 27.5% had a cancellation by the doctor and 9.3% had concerns over going to see the doctor. Finally, 22.8% of patients reported finding it difficult to respect hygiene measures because of their psoriasis, e.g., application of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (47.6%), handwashing routines (42.9%), and wearing a mask (28.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the major clinical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with psoriasis. Teleconsultations played a key role in patient management as regards patient monitoring, provision of information, and renewal of treatments. It is vital that we learn from these data to improve and adapt the monitoring of chronic dermatoses in both children and adults in the event of a future health crisis.

Clinical factors predictive for histological aggressiveness of basal cell carcinoma: A prospective study of 2274 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Since surgery is the first-line treatment for basal cell carcinomas (BCC), the histological aggressiveness of the disease must be clinically predicted in order to apply optimal safety margins that ensure a high rate of complete resection while minimising the risk of recurrence. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical predictive factors of histological aggressiveness of BCC, we conducted a national prospective multi-centre study. METHODS: All consecutive patients presenting for BCC surgery were included, and standardised clinical data collected, and slides were submitted for review. Trabecular, micronodular and morpheaform BCCs were classified as aggressive. RESULTS: Of the 2710 cases included, 2274 were histologically confirmed. Clinical subtyping was correct in 49.9% of superficial BCCs, 86.2% of nodular BCCs and only 22% of aggressive BCCs. By multivariate analysis, aggressive BCCs were more frequently ulcerated (45%), indurated (70%), showed adherence (8.6%), and were associated with high-risk anatomical zones (50.3%, P<0.0001). These predictive clinical features may be helpful for decision making.

Psychological and professional impact of COVID-19 lockdown on French dermatologists: Data from a large survey.

AIM: To evaluate the extent to which COVID-19-related lockdown affected dermatologists. METHODS: An anonymous online survey was proposed to all French dermatologists and dermatology residents to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on their professional activity, their level of stress and their psychological state, as well as their coping strategies. RESULTS: Exactly 800 dermatologists completed the survey. The respondents noted changes in behaviour in their professional and personal environment. The number of cancelled or rescheduled appointments was very high, with a huge financial impact for private practitioners. Stigmatisation was also reported. Anxiety and a feeling of increased stress were very frequent. Increased substance use was also reported. CONCLUSION: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown was significant for French dermatologists, with risks to their own health, profound changes in their practice, and financial and psychological impact, but also the development of new consultation and evaluation strategies to improve their work-life balance.