The causes of nail apparatus pigmentation presenting to a melanoma screening clinic a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Advanced stage primary cutaneous malignant melanoma (PCMM) has a high mortality. PCMM may affect any area of the skin, including the nail apparatus (malignant melanoma or subungual melanoma). Although nail apparatus malignant melanoma (NAMM) is rare, delayed diagnosis carries a poor prognosis. AIM: The primary aim was to study the range of nail presentations and identify key patterns to aid in differential diagnosis. A secondary aim was to quantify the number of patients requiring surgery, indications for biopsy, and the incidence and characteristics of NAMM. METHODS: This was a prospective study of all referrals with nail apparatus pigmentation to a weekly dedicated melanoma screening clinic over a 6-month period. RESULTS: In total, 2246 patients were included. Of the 38 patients referred with nail pigmentation, 1 (2.6%) was diagnosed with NAMM and involved a fungating amelanotic lesion of the right hallux. The remaining patients were diagnosed with subungual haematoma (20/38; 52.6%), viral wart (2/38; 5.4%), acral fibrokeratoma (1/38; 2.6%), myxoid cyst (3/38; 7.9%), fungal nail infection (4/38; 10.5%), Pseudomonas nail infection (1/38; 2.6%), benign linear pigmentation (2/38, 5.3%), Bowen disease (1/38, 2.6%), psoriatic nail changes (2/38; 5.3%) and matrix malalignment (1/38; 2.6%). Of the eight patients (21.1%) who required surgery, five had a biopsy taken and three underwent surgery. Only 14 cases were followed up by Dermatology. NAMM accounted for 0.7% of all melanomas diagnosed. CONCLUSION: We illustrate the wide range of diagnoses for pigmented nail presentations and highlight the late presentation of advanced disease in a patient presenting with NAMM.

Inherited pulmonary cylindromas: extending the phenotype of CYLD mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND: Germline mutations in the tumour suppressor gene CYLD are recognized to be associated with the development of multiple cutaneous cylindromas. We encountered such a patient who presented with breathlessness because of multiple pulmonary cylindromas. OBJECTIVES: To search for clinical and radiological features of multiple pulmonary cylindromas in a cohort of 16 patients with CYLD mutations. METHODS: A retrospective case-note review was carried out in a tertiary dermatogenetics clinic where CYLD mutation carriers are reviewed on an annual basis. In-depth investigation was carried out for patients with pulmonary tumours. RESULTS: Four patients had radiological imaging of their lungs, of which two had multiple pulmonary cylindromas that were confirmed histologically. Serial computed tomography monitoring allowed for pre-emptive endobronchial laser ablation, preventing major airway obstruction and pulmonary collapse. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary cylindromas are an unrecognized, but infrequently symptomatic, aspect of the phenotype in these patients that can have implications for patient care. They should be considered in patients with a high tumour burden that present with respiratory symptoms, and where appropriate, monitored with serial imaging.

Successful treatment of forehead lipoma depends on knowledge of the surgical anatomy: a step-by-step guide.

We review the anatomy of the frontal scalp in relation to the clinical features and surgical management of frontalis-associated lipoma. Awareness of this entity, coupled with sound regional anatomical knowledge, is essential to achieve good outcomes.

Nasal anatomy for the dermatological surgeon.

The nose is an important site of skin pathology and skin cancer in particular, underlining the importance of the nose to the practice of dermatology. This article is intended to serve as an overview of the anatomy of the nose for dermatologists and dermatological surgeons. Areas of clinical relevance are emphasized with examples.

A prospective case series of secondary intention healing for surgical wounds on the dorsum of the hand.

BACKGROUND: The dorsum of the hand is a common site for squamous cell carcinoma, and excision with appropriate margins often results in surgical defects that cannot be repaired by primary side-to-side closure. AIM: To assess healing time, complications and resulting scars when surgical wounds on the dorsum of the hand were allowed to heal by secondary intention. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 28 surgical defects on the dorsum of the hand, which were allowed to heal by secondary intention. Patients were followed up on days 2, 7 and 14, and then every 2 weeks until the wounds healed. Wound dressings were changed 2-3 times per week. Patients' tolerance of this treatment and their degree of satisfaction with the final results was determined. RESULTS: The defect diameters ranged from 15 to 46 mm (median 24 mm). The time to heal was determined in 24 patients, and ranged from 22 to 63 days (median 44 days). There were no cases of postoperative bleeding. Two patients developed erythema of the wound edge; wound swabs for culture were negative in both cases. Overgranulation developed in 12 of 28 wounds, which settled with the application of a potent topical steroid and discontinuation of the hydrocolloid dressing. Patients were either 'very satisfied' (12/18) or 'satisfied' (6/18) with the resulting scar. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary intention healing of surgical wounds on the dorsum of the hand is a useful management option, which is well tolerated by patients, has a low rate of complications, and gives good cosmetic results.

Direct primary closure without undermining in the repair of vermilionectomy defects of the lower lip.

BACKGROUND: Vermilionectomy is an excisional technique for the treatment of lower lip squamous cell carcinoma and actinic cheilitis. The vermilionectomy defect is usually repaired by a labial mucosal advancement flap. Traditionally, the mucosal wound margins are widely undermined but this can be associated with significant postoperative morbidity. OBJECTIVES: We describe our experience with a modified technique whereby lower lip vermilionectomy defects were repaired by direct primary closure without undermining and present the subsequent cosmetic, functional and sensory results. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This is a retrospective case series of 21 patients who underwent vermilionectomy repair by direct closure without undermining. Combined data regarding the presence of any postoperative sensory, functional or cosmetic disturbance are presented. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 17 patients. Minimal sensory disturbance was noted in 10·5% of our patients 6 months postoperatively, which is less than previous studies. Similarly, labial scar tension was less frequent in our series; 94% of the patients were satisfied with cosmesis. CONCLUSIONS: Direct closure without undermining is a simple, reproducible technique for repair of lower lip vermilionectomy defects and leads to excellent cosmetic, functional and sensory results in the majority of patients.

Cutaneous features of intravascular lymphoma.

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is a subset of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with an estimated incidence of <1 case per million people. It is characterised by extensive proliferation of lymphoma cells within small to medium-sized blood vessels. Most IVLs are B-cell tumours. IVL can present primarily in any organ system, including the skin. The disease is often disseminated at diagnosis. The overall mortality rate is thought to be >80%, and >50% of patients are diagnosed at postmortem examination. There is wide variability in the clinical appearance of cutaneous lesions, which may simulate inflammatory skin disease. Therefore, awareness by dermatologists is important to enable early diagnosis when cutaneous signs are present. We report two patients with unexplained systemic disease and a skin eruption, leading to the diagnosis of IVL, and outline the range of cutaneous features reported.

Clopidogrel: mechanisms of action and review of the evidence relating to use during skin surgery procedures.

Patients who have skin surgery may be taking medication that increases the likelihood of bleeding, such as clopidogrel, aspirin, warfarin, heparin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). All of these may increase the risk of perioperative and postoperative bleeding. This article examines the mechanism of action of clopidogrel, current practice, and evidence for or against continuing its use during skin surgery. The mechanisms of action of aspirin, warfarin, heparin and NSAIDS will also be briefly discussed.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus occuring after radiotherapy for relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare multisystem, autoimmune disease with prominent mucocutaneous manifestations, occurring most commonly in association with haematological malignancies. It is characterised by the presence of circulating autoantibodies against epithelial adhesion proteins. We report a 46-year-old woman with common variable immunodeficiency who developed paraneoplastic pemphigus after receiving radiotherapy for relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Flaccid bullae covering approximately 70% of the skin, painful oropharyngeal ulceration and periocular erosions were prominent clinical features. Despite supportive treatment and attempts at disease control using high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, the patient became increasingly debilitated, developed septic shock secondary to Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia on two occasions and died of respiratory failure 6 weeks after presentation. We highlight the need to be aware of (PNP) and to perform appropriate immunological investigations. In addition, we emphasise the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of such patients.

Venous lakes of the vermillion lip treated by infrared coagulation.

We reviewed the treatment of 20 venous lakes by infrared coagulation in 18 patients. Seventeen cleared after one treatment; in three patients a further treatment was required, and one patient needed a total of three sessions to clear the venous lake. At 1-6 months follow-up there was complete clearance with no discernible mark in all but four patients who had minimal scarring, including the patient who had three treatments.

Atypical fibroxanthoma, lentigo maligna melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma arising in the site of a thermal burn treated with skin grafts.

We report the first case of atypical fibroxanthoma, lentigo maligna melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma that developed in the site of a thermal burn that had previously been treated with multiple skin grafts.There is a controversy over the question of an increased risk of skin cancer in scars from burns and the various factors which may contribute to this.

Surgical excision of acne keloidalis nuchae with secondary intention healing.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a chronic scarring folliculitis that presents clinically as follicular papules and pustules. These can coalesce into firm hypertrophic plaques and nodules on the nape of the neck, most commonly affecting young adult men. Treatment includes topical steroids/antibiotics and oral antibiotics, but often has disappointing results. Surgical approaches include excision with primary closure or skin grafting, and hair-removal lasers. Another surgical approach is excision with secondary intention healing. This can result in good cosmesis with little or no recurrence. We report two men with AKN where treatment by excision with secondary intention was successful.