Topographic superficial craniectomy for invasive scalp carcinoma.

The management of non-melanoma skin cancer of the scalp that invades the deep structures can be challenging. An operative technique of topographic superficial craniectomy using a piezoelectric instrument (Piezosurgery (Mectron S.p.A., Carasco, Italy)) for tumours with periosteal invasion without diploic space invasion is presented here. The tumour was resected including the periosteum of the craniectomy area. A grid was carved through the outer table using the Piezosurgery device. The grid squares measured approximately 1.5 cm on each side. A bony strip was removed from one side of the grid to complete a deep cut while avoiding crossing the inner table. The squares were collected individually with a chisel and sent for pathological analysis. This technique was used to identify and localize any possible bone invasion. As this method allowed an accurate pathological diagnosis to be obtained from the Piezosurgery squares, it was possible to determine the appropriate adjuvant treatment, thereby reducing the risk of malignant cells spreading.

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.

Metabolic comorbidities and hypertension in psoriasis patients in France. Comparisons with French national databases.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have shown a high prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities in psoriasis. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of psoriasis with key comorbidities such as smoking, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes comparatively with French national data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicentre noninterventional observational study of adults with psoriasis was conducted in 29 dermatology centres in France. A total of 2210 patients were included. The prevalence of comorbidities in psoriatic patients was compared to data from the French national databanks "ObEpi 2012" (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes) and "Baromètre Santé 2010" (smoking). RESULTS: We reported a higher prevalence of all metabolic comorbidities and high blood pressure in psoriatic patients. Smoking: 32.5% were active smokers; the age of onset and the prevalence of familial psoriasis were significantly lower in the smoking group but the severity of psoriasis was significantly higher. The frequency of smoking was higher than in the general population, particularly among young female patients. Obesity: 24% of patients with psoriasis were obese. Multivariate analysis showed obesity to be significantly associated with other comorbidities, severity of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The incidence of obesity was higher than in general population, occurring chiefly in subjects aged over 45 years. HYPERTENSION: 26% of patients with psoriasis had hypertension. The age of onset of psoriasis and the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis were significantly higher in the hypertension group, although there was less familial psoriasis. The incidence of hypertension was higher than in general population. Dyslipidaemia: 27.5% of patients with psoriasis had dyslipidaemia. The age of onset in the dyslipidaemia group was higher although there was less familial psoriasis. The incidence of dyslipidaemia was higher than in general population. Diabetes: 11.0% of patients with psoriasis had diabetes. The age of onset of psoriasis was significantly higher in the diabetes group although there was less familial psoriasis. The incidence of diabetes was higher than in general population particularly after the age of 35 years. CONCLUSION: These results confirmed that psoriasis is associated with significant metabolic comorbidities and hypertension compared to the general population in France, with certain epidemiological differences for each.

[Miescher's cheilitis and lymphocytic clonal expansion: 2 cases]. / Macrochéilite de Miescher et expansion lymphocytaire monoclonale. Deux cas.

INTRODUCTION: Melkersson Rosenthal's syndrome is a rare disease that classically combines: orofacial edema, peripheral facial paralysis and a plicated tongue. Miescher's cheilitis represents the monosymptomatic form of the disease. Its etiopathogenesis is unknown. We report 2 cases of Miescher's cheilitis during which the discovery of a monoclonal lymphocyte expansion raised the question of an eventual link between these two diseases. CASE REPORTS: CASE No 1. A 30 Year-old man, without medical past history, had been followed up for 3 Years for Miescher's cheilitis. The supplementary examinations permitted elimination of an infectious cause, Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis or a contact allergy. A serum monoclonal IgG kappa was discovered fortuitously. An X-ray of the skeleton and the myelogram were normal. There was no detectable monoclonal rearrangement of the genes of the blood or bone marrow T or B-cell lymphocyte receptor. In the absence of progression towards a malignant blood disease three Years later, we concluded in a benign monoclonal gammapathy. CASE No 2. A 36 Year-old Algerian man, without past medical history, had been followed-up for 8 Years for a granulomatous macrocheilitis. The search for Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis or a contact allergy was negative and the diagnosis of an incomplete Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome was retained. The blood count revealed persisting hyperlymphocytosis in the blood. The etiological search for a hyperlymphocytosis showed a monoclonal rearrangement of the T-cell lymphocyte receptor genes in the blood lymphocytes. The myelogram was normal. COMMENTS: Melkersson Rosenthal's syndrome is a rare granulomatous disease of the mucosa of the mouth. The etiopathogenesis of this affection is unknown and controversial, several case reports suggest that it could be a disease of immunological origin. A clonal T-cell lymphocyte population was revealed in the labial lesions of a 12 Year-old patient presenting with Melkersson Rosenthal's syndrome during a control visit, without the role of this lymphocyte population having been determined. We report two other cases associating blood lymphocyte proliferation and Melkersson Rosenthal' syndrome. This association is not necessarily fortuitous because of the rarity of the syndrome on the one hand and the uncommon nature of the detection of lymphocyte clones in young patients on the other. The presence of a clonal population can be interpreted in two manners: it can demonstrate chronic antigen stimulation, which with a super-antigenic effect leads to the expansion of a lymphocyte population making it detectable. The other hypothesis would be an increased secretion of cytokines by the lymphocyte clone provoking a granulomatous organization, as during granulomatous lymphomas.