Comparison of clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes for cutaneous melanomas of the head and neck and melanomas arising at other sites: implications for systemic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous disease, with conflicting evidence regarding whether cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM) represents a distinct entity. OBJECTIVE: Comparison of clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes of CHNM and cutaneous melanomas of other sites (CMOS). METHODS: Patients with CHNM and CMOS diagnosed between 2000-2018 were included. Locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS), and overall survival (OS) were described using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analyses were performed to examine associations between prognostic factors and outcomes. Additional analyses of survival from time of stage IV disease diagnosis were undertaken, stratified by receipt of BRAF-targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. RESULTS: Of 3007 CHNM and 10637 CMOS patients, CHNM had more adverse pathological features (median age 65.9 vs. 58.5, p<0.001, median Breslow thickness 1.7mm vs. 1.2mm, p<0.001, ulceration 21.2% vs. 18.2%, p<0.001). CHNM had worse LRC (HR 1.17, p<0.001) and DMFS (HR 1.25, p<0.001) but there were no significant differences in MSS or OS. Amongst stage IV patients who received ICI, CHNM had better MSS (HR 0.56, p=0.001) and OS (HR 0.57, p<0.001) on multivariable analyses. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study, offset by prospective data collection. CONCLUSION: CHNM is associated with a distinct clinicopathological and prognostic profile.

Spontaneous Extrusion of a Conjunctivolith Containing Herpes Virus Confirmed by Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy.

: This report describes the spontaneous extrusion from between the eyelids of a presumed conjunctivolith in a patient with resolving severe herpes zoster ophthalmicus. A 57-year-old man presented for ophthalmologic assessment and management due to severe left herpes zoster ophthalmicus. At one subsequent ophthalmologic assessment, a conjunctivolith spontaneously egressed the lateral commissure of the OS when the lateral fornix was inspected. The conjunctivolith was retrieved from the floor of the consulting room. Electron microscopic analysis and energy dispersive spectroscopy was undertaken to determine its composition. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the conjunctivolith was composed of carbon, calcium, and oxygen. Transmission electron microscopy diagnosed Herpes virus within the conjunctivolith. Conjunctivoliths, or possible lacrimal gland stones, are a very rare phenomenon, and their etiology is currently unclear. In this case, there was likely to have been an association between herpes zoster ophthalmicus and the conjunctivolith.

Apparent Defective Abduction Without Diplopia.

Sixth nerve palsies present with horizontal diplopia and typically have a neurological or neurovascular aetiology. They can be confirmed by clinically evaluating the velocity of the abducting saccade, which is slowed. Three cases are presented in which the patients had apparent defective abduction of one eye, resulting from not only neurological causes but also orbital causes. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion in patients with defective abduction without diplopia and should include apparent defective abduction without diplopia (ADAD) in the list of potential differential diagnoses, considering not only neurological involvement but also orbital involvement.