Morphology of the trigeminal ganglion: anatomical structures related to trigeminal radiofrequency rhizotomy.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common example of craniofacial neuralgia. Its etiology is unknown and is characterized by severe episodes of paroxysmal pain. The trigeminal ganglion and its adjacent anatomical structures have a complex anatomy. The foramen ovale is of great importance during surgical procedures such as percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the anatomical structures associated with the trigeminal ganglion and radiofrequency rhizotomy on cadavers and investigate their relationship with the electrodes used during rhizotomy to determine the contribution of the electrode diameter and length to the effectiveness of the lesion formation on the ganglion. METHODS: Five fresh-frozen cadaver heads injected with red silicone/latex were used. A percutaneous puncture was made by inserting of a cannula through the foramen ovale to create a pathway for electrodes. The relationships between the electrodes, Meckel's cave, trigeminal ganglion, and neurovascular structures were observed and morphometric measurements were obtained using a digital caliper. RESULTS: Trigeminal ganglion, therefore the electrode in its final position, shows proximity with important anatomical structures. The electrode was inserted posteriorly into the foramen ovale in all of the specimens and was located on the retrogasserian fibers. This study revealed that the electrodes targeting the ganglion and passing through the foramen ovale may cause a radiofrequency lesion due to the contact effect of the dura itself pressing on the electrode. Pushing the cannula beyond the petroclival angle may result in puncturing of the dura propria and moving further away from the target area. CONCLUSION: The success of radiofrequency rhizotomy is directly related to the area affected by the lesion. Understanding the mechanism of action underlying this procedure will ensure the effectiveness, success, and sustainability of the treatment.

Dermatoscopic features of Spitz naevi on acral volar skin: Report of 11 cases.

Spitzoid melanocytic lesions characterized by spindle and/or epithelioid tumour cells can occur anywhere on the skin but the acral presentation of Spitz naevus is very rare and comprises about <4% of all Spitz naevi. However, data regarding their dermatoscopic features on the acral volar skin are scarce. Herein, 11 cases of acral Spitz naevus involving the glabrous skin with predominant dermatoscopic findings of atypical fibrillar pattern in non-pressure bearing areas, a structureless pigmentation involving both the furrows and the ridges are presented.

Dermatoscopic findings and dermatopathological correlates in clinical variants of actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, keratoacanthoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), predominantly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma, is increasing worldwide. Dermatoscopy, which is one of the non-invasive diagnostic techniques, is important for early diagnosis of NMSC. In this study we aimed to determine dermatoscopic features of keratinocyte derived tumors including actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen's disease (BD), keratoacanthoma (KA), and SCC and correlate the dermatoscopic findings with pathology. A total of 242 lesions from 169 patients were included in the study and dermatoscopic and dermatopathological findings of the lesions were retrospectively studied. Revised pattern analysis was used for the dermatoscopic evaluation. Among 242 lesions, 145 were clinically flat (86 AK, 30 BD, and 29 SCC). Presence of vessels, ulceration, fiber sign, keratin mass, and blood spots decreased the probability of a lesion being AK. When the differential diagnosis was considered between KA and SCC vs AK and BD; vessel presence, ulceration, fiber sign, blood spots, white structureless, keratin, and centred vessels favored the diagnosis of KA and SCC. Our results may contribute to the determination of the lesions to be biopsied in patients with multiple AK on chronically sun damaged skin. In non-pigmented lesions when a final diagnosis cannot be established, knowledge of dermatopathologic and dermatoscopic correlation may significantly assist interpretation of dermatoscopic patterns and clues.

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides: Clinical characteristics, treatments, and long-term outcomes of 53 patients in a tertiary hospital.

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is characterized by a broad clinical spectrum and worse prognosis compared to classical MF. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities and long-term outcome and risk factors for progression and survival of FMF patients. We conducted a single-center retrospective study and reviewed 53 patients diagnosed with FMF between 1990 to 2019 in a referral center at Ankara University, Turkey. Regarding to stage at diagnosis, 24 patients (45.3%) had advanced-stage disease (≥IIB). Follicular papules was observed in 66% and alopecia in 49.1% of the cases. Forty-three patients (81.1%) suffered from pruritus. The majority of the patients (92.4%) had at least one systemic therapy. Complete remission was achieved in 24.5% of the patients. The median time of overall survival (OS) was 50 months (range 9-324 months) and 5-year and 10-year OS was 83% and 69%, respectively. Twenty-eight (52.3%) patients progressed to more advanced stages and seven (13.2%) patients died due to MF during the follow-up period. FMF is associated with a progressive course and in most patients, skin-directed therapies were found to be inefficient to control the disease and multiple systemic therapeutic agents were required to control the disease.

Basosquamous carcinoma and melanoma collision tumor in a child with xeroderma pigmentosum.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis associated with hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), being due to defects involving the nucleotide excision repair pathway. Patients with XP are prone to develop multiple cutaneous neoplasms including non-melanoma skin cancers and melanoma. Collision tumors in patients with XP have been reported in the literature including the following lesions, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and in situ melanoma. Herein, we present a rare collision tumor composed of melanoma and basosquamous carcinoma in a 13-year-old XP patient and describe the dermoscopic features.

Dermoscopic findings of Kaposi sarcoma and dermatopathological correlations.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: There are a limited number of studies regarding the dermoscopic features and dermatopathological correlations of Kaposi sarcoma. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate dermoscopic features of Kaposi sarcoma, and the secondary objective was to investigate their dermatopathological correlates. METHODS: Dermoscopic and clinical analysis of 222 lesions from 38 patients with histologically confirmed Kaposi darcoma were assessed by two investigators. A total of 83 biopsies were available from different clinical stages. Additionally, 3 mm punch biopsy was performed where newly defined dermoscopic findings were observed. Modified pattern analysis algorithm was used for the dermoscopic evaluation. RESULTS: The most common dermoscopic features of Kaposi sarcoma were white lines (55.9%) and white clods (37.8%) followed by surface scale (32.9%) and polychromatic colour change (22.1%). Four dot clods, white lines, white clods, collarette sign, serpentine vessels, dotted, curved and coiled vessels were the new dermoscopic findings of our study. Polychromatic colour change is correlated with the presence of hyaline globules probably with their birefringence properties, whereas we found no significant correlation between polychromatic colour change and honeycomb-like pattern of vascular spaces. CONCLUSIONS: White lines, white clods, four dot clods, collarette sign, serpentine vessels, dotted, curved and coiled vessels are the new dermoscopic features of Kaposi sarcoma, and polychromatic colour change is correlated with the presence of hyaline globules.

Severe upper eyelid mass in a patient with mycosis fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that has been rarely reported to involve ocular structures. Ophthalmic manifestations usually appear in advanced disease. A case of a 58-year-old man presenting with progressive, full thickness, giant upper eyelid mass is presented. The patient had a long history of recurrent tumoral lesions on the trunk and limbs, previously diagnosed as mycosis fungoides. The histopathological examinations of eyelid tumor supported the diagnosis of mycosis fungoides. The mycosis fungoides was stage as IIB (T3N0M0B0) by TNMB classifications and referred to the Hematology and Radiation Oncology clinics. The importance of ophthalmic involvement is being seen in advanced or refractory cases, and there is a possible relation between mycosis fungoides and poor prognosis by being an early indicator of systemic involvement.

Lichen sclerosus associated with Nd:YAG laser therapy.

Laser is the most efficient and popular method in hair removal. The most common side effects of laser assisted hair removal are pain, erythema, edema, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, blistering, crusting, erosions, purpura, folliculitis, and scar formation ( 1 ). Herein, for the first time we describe a case of lichen sclerosus (LS) following hair removal with long pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser therapy.

Skin-Dominant Phenotype in a Patient with H Syndrome: Identification of a Novel Mutation in the SLC29A3 Gene.

H syndrome (OMIM 602782) is a very rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis with multisystem involvement. Hallmarks of this disorder are juvenile onset and progressive, hyperpigmented, hypertrichotic lesions with histiocytic infiltration. Associated systemic manifestations form a long list, and there is high variability between patients. In some patients, dysmorphic and other systemic features may be so subtle that the disorder may readily be mistaken as an acquired skin disease and treated as such. Herein, we report a novel homozygous c.1339G>A (p.Glu447Lys) mutation in the SLC29A3 gene in a patient with skin-dominant presentation of H syndrome. Additionally, due to the present case, double superior vena cava can be added to the list of possible cardiovascular manifestations of H syndrome.

Anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy in iris and ciliary body lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Differentiation of iris and ciliary body lesions as benign or malignant and cystic or solid is important. The aim of this study was to compare anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography (AS SS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) findings in iris and ciliary body tumors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty-two eyes of 38 cases with iris and ciliary body tumors imaged with UBM and AS SS-OCT between September 2018 and September 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Of 42 eyes, 14 had melanoma, 14 iris pigment epithelial (IPE) cysts, 7 nevi, 3 Lisch nodules, 2 iris stromal cysts, 1 pars plana cysts, and 1 iris mammillations. An equivalent (100%) visualization of the anterior tumor margin was obtained with both techniques. Compared to AS SS-OCT, UBM was superior for posterior margin visualization in melanocytic tumors and IPE cysts. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement between UBM and AS SS-OCT for melanocytic tumors < 2.5 mm in base diameter and < 2 mm in thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Although, UBM is the gold standard for ciliary body and iridociliary tumors. AS SS-OCT should be considered as an excellent alternative to UBM, especially in minimally elevated iris lesions.