Unusual dermoscopic patterns of basal cell carcinoma mimicking melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma can simulate melanoma and specific dermoscopic criteria have not yet been defined in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE: To identify dermoscopic "trump" characteristics for differential diagnosis, identify cluster groups and assess the clinical impact of this study's findings. METHODS: Retrospective, multicentric comparative study of atypical, non-facial basal cell carcinoma (≥1 seven-point checklist criteria) and melanoma (with at least one BCC criteria) at dermoscopy. Observed dermoscopic features were used to develop a proposed score. Lesion clusters were defined with hierarchical analysis. Clinical impact was assessed with a blinded reader study following this study's results. RESULTS: A total of 146 basal cell carcinoma and 76 melanoma were included. Atypical vascular pattern was common to most lesions (74.5%). Twelve trump features were included in the proposed score (sensitivity 94.1% and specificity 79.5%). Cluster analysis identified 3 basal cell carcinoma and 3 melanoma clusters. Findings improved overall diagnostic accuracy and confidence (26.8% and 13.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the notion that atypical vascular pattern should be considered a shared feature of both melanoma and atypical basal cell carcinoma. Our proposed score improves diagnostic accuracy and confidence. Absence of pigmented features was associated with lower diagnostic accuracy and confidence.

Clinical efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol in cutaneous symptoms on psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A retrospective analysis in real life.

We present the results on retrospective analysis about the efficacy of Certolizumab pegol (CZP), an antitumor necrosis factor-alpha agent, as monotherapy on skin psoriasis (PsO) in patients affect both by psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and mild-severe PsO. To date, the CZP is authorized for the treatment of PsA, PsO beyond that rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis/ankylosing spondylitis, and Crohn's. Assessments included an evaluation of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Twelve patients (9M and 3F mean age 57.8 ± 8 years) were enrolled in our study. Nine patients had been previously treated with others biologic agents, three patients were naïve. Clinical and laboratory evaluations including PASI, erythrosedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were performed at baseline (BL), at Week 12 (W12), Week 24 (W24), and Week 52 (W52) of treatment. Although the combination between methotrexate and CZP is allowed, we included, in our study, patients treated only with CZP. In such a way as to be as specific as possible, topical corticosteroids, vitamin D derivatives, retinoid creams, anthralin derivatives as well as p-UVA or UV-B have been forbidden to enrolled patients. With the same purpose, all the patients used the identical moisturizing cream two times a day. Mean PASI score decreased from 18 (BL) to 0 (W52) as follows: 18 at BL, 4 at W12, 0 at W24, and 0 at W52. Severe adverse events were not reported. Safety evaluations were performed every 3 months: liver and renal functions were monitored in all patients during the treatment, and no patient presented abnormal values. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that highlights the efficacy of CZP as monotherapy in psoriasis with mild to severe cutaneous involvement. Although to date the drug is authorized only for PsA, our results demonstrate that CZP is safe and effective on both cutaneous and joint components representing, therefore, an effective option in the treatment of cutaneous symptoms of PsO. Limitations of our study are presented by the relatively short observation time (W52) and by numeric small study group. Long-term data with a larger number of enrolled patients are necessary in order to confirm our preliminary observations.

Clindamycin versus clindamycin plus rifampicin in hidradenitis suppurativa treatment: Clinical and ultrasound observations.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are recognized as first-line treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), but the data on their efficacy are limited. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy of oral clindamycin versus that of clindamycin plus rifampicin in patients with HS. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with mild-to-moderate-severe HS who were classified according to their International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4) and Hurley scores, were subdivided into 2 groups of 30 patients each (group A, the members of which received clindamycin plus rifampicin, and group B, the members of which were treated with clindamycin alone) and retrospectively studied. The main objective was to evaluate and compare the clinical and ultrasound responses between the groups after 8 weeks of treatment according to the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response measure. RESULTS: After the treatment, 17 of 30 patients in group A and 19 of 30 in group B met the primary outcome. Both groups showed a similar improvement of IHS4 score, whereas the Dermatology Life Quality Index and pain Visual Analogue Scale scores improved more in group B. In particular, the reductions in nodule and abscess counts were similar between the 2 groups, whereas the number of draining tunnels decreased more in group B. The factors significantly associated with Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response score were age, body mass index, IHS4 score, and absence of axillary involvement. Disease-free survival was similar between the 2 groups. LIMITATIONS: The study was not randomized or placebo-controlled. CONCLUSION: Clindamycin may be a useful treatment alternative to antibiotic combination regardless of HS clinical stage.

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: Treatment and Management.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis consists of the presence of abrasions or ulcerations located on mucosae (oral or genital). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to review the current literature providing the main causes related to recurrent aphthous stomatitis and insights into treatment and management of this clinical condition. METHODS: Articles matching terms that correlated with "recurrent aphthous stomatitis" were searched on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library and selected according to their pertinence. RESULTS: Several forms of aphthous stomatitis have been described, based on the extent (minor, major), morphology (herpetiform) and associations to other signs (Behçet syndrome or more complex inflammatory syndromes). Topical as well as systemic treatments have been described to obtain a faster remission of the aphthosis or to reduce associated symptoms such as pain. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis can have a mild-to-severe clinical appearance, being mainly localized on the oral mucosa or at the level of the genital area. Different strategies have been described so far for its management and treatment.

Characterization of comorbid conditions burdening hidradenitis suppurativa: a multicentric observational study.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, disabling, inflammatory skin disorder that primarily affects the hair follicle localized at the apocrine-gland-bearing areas of the body, including axillary, inguinal, buttocks, and anogenital areas, and it may be associated with a wide array of comorbid conditions. This study aimed to described comorbid conditions affecting HS patients and to detect any correlation with disease severity. METHODS: Analyzing clinic database, we included all charts of patients visited at the HS outpatient clinic of three University Dermatologic Departments in order to describe demographic data, anthropometric measures, disease features, personal habits, clinical history, and presence of comorbidities. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-four patients, mostly females (62%), were enrolled in this study. Based on Hurley staging classification 41% of patients were classified as Hurley Stage I, 43.0% as Hurley II, and 16% Hurley III, with a mean mSartorius Score value of 24.7 (SD: ±19.39) and a mean AISI score value of 12.5 (SD: ±11.93). The most frequently observed comorbidities were: obesity (26.1%), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (13.8% of the overall study population and 22.3% of females), hypertension (11.9%), dyslipidemia (9.9%), type II diabetes (9.5%), thyroid disorders (9.1%), nervous system disorders (7.1%), acne (6.7%), metabolic syndrome (4.4%), and Crohn's disease (3.6%). Obesity represented a key-comorbid condition increasing the likelihood of having more severe HS and PCOS (odds ratio 3.35 and 3.74, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: HS is associated with a variety of comorbid conditions that should be considered to perform targeted routine screening and to improve HS management.