[MELALIB 15: A retrospective observational study of 383 cases of melanoma diagnosed by dermatologists in private practice]. / MELALIB15 : étude observationnelle rétrospective de 383 mélanomes dépistés par des dermatologues libéraux.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of melanoma constitutes a major challenge and is a common reason for dermatological consultations. There is no recent data on melanomas diagnosed in the private medical sector in France, nor on the circumstances of diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study on records collating data on all new consecutive cases of melanoma diagnosed between January 2015 and June 2018, in the private sector only, by volunteer dermatologists belonging to the association for continuing medical education, "Dermatologie Paris XV". A data collection sheet was prepared on which to record information about the dermatologist, the patient, the main complaint, the characteristics of the melanoma, and the initial treatment given, using the computerized list provided by our dermatopathology offices. RESULTS: The study involved 383 cases of melanoma, 37% in situ and 63% invasive, which consisted chiefly of superficial spreading melanoma. The median age of the cohort was 61 years and patients were predominantly female (58%). Follow-up of high-risk patients and complete routine examination (in those consulting for another reason) resulted in direct detection by a dermatologist of 202 of the 383 melanomas (52.7%); these melanomas had a lower median Breslow index than the rest of the cohort and were thin in the main. When patients consulted for a suspect lesion (139 cases), the lesion had been identified mostly by either the patient or by a relative (61% of cases). The decision to consult was made chiefly by the patients themselves, and the Breslow index was thicker. An initial consultation for nevus screening resulted in diagnosis of 42 melanomas, i.e. only 11% of the cohort. Dermoscopy was performed by 92% of the dermatologists participating in the study. Melanoma excision was performed in the office by the practitioner in 75% of cases, and management was validated at multidisciplinary meetings in 65% of cases. CONCLUSION: In terms of French primary care, dermatologists in private practice play a key role in ensuring early detection and initial management of melanoma.

[Anal and vulvar hidradenoma papilliferum are similar: A study of 14 cases]. / Les hidradénomes papillifères de l'anus ressemblent à ceux de la vulve : étude de 14 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP) is an adenomatous proliferation of mammary-like glands. These glands are located preferentially on the vaginal labia, the perineum and the anal skin. About ninety percent of HP occur on the vulva, with anal localization being much less common. AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyze the clinical and histological characteristics of anal HP and compare them to those seen on the vulva based on the literature. METHOD: A monocentric retrospective analysis (in the medical and surgical proctology department of the Saint-Joseph Hospital Group, Paris) of patients for whom a diagnosis of anal HP was made based on pathological analysis of a resected sample. RESULTS: A total of 14 female patients were included between 2012 and 2018. The mean age was 48.2 years (22-70). The tumor, single in all cases, was asymptomatic with very slow progression. It was located on the anal skin in all patients. It generally consisted of a round nodule measuring under 1cm that was barely prominent, translucent, depressible and mobile. In 15% of patients the tumor was ulcerated. Histologically, the tumor displayed the usual characteristics of HP. Only one relapse was seen, six years after resection. CONCLUSION: The clinical and histological aspects of anal HP are the same as those of the vulva, which are better documented, namely a small, rounded, pink, translucent or bluish, and mobile tumor, with a smooth surface, and more rarely ulceration or budding, and in most cases asymptomatic. All HP were diagnosed in women and were located at the anal margin. Histopathological examination of an excised sample confirms the diagnosis and rules out a malignant tumor. The frequency of anal HP may be underestimated.

[Miescher's granulomatous vulvitis]. / Vulvite granulomateuse de type Miescher.

BACKGROUND: Miescher's cheilitis, whether occurring alone or as part of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, is a rare type of granulomatous inflammation of unknown cause with an even rarer genital equivalent. Herein, we describe a case of the latter condition developing over a 12-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 27-year-old woman presented episodes of unilateral vulvar oedema, which initially regressed but resulted over time in permanent vulvar and perineal tumefaction. Histology revealed epithelioid histocytic granulomas so mild that they were not noticed at the start of the disease. The oedema remained the sole sign for 12years and two gastrointestinal screening tests for Crohn's disease proved negative, diagnosis of the latter condition was ruled out. DISCUSSION: Miescher's granulomatous vulvitis requires differential diagnosis, essentially with regard to Crohn's disease. Our case illustrates the difficulty in diagnosing this rare disease as well as the uncertainties surrounding its physiopathology. Diagnosis rests upon repeated sampling and biopsies with repeated levels of sections in order to identify the characteristic perivascular granulomas, which may be very mild.

2016 European guideline for the management of vulval conditions.

Vulval conditions may present to a variety of clinicians, such as dermatologists, gynaecologists and general practitioners. Women with these conditions are best managed by a multidisciplinary approach, which includes clear referral pathways between disciplines or access to a specialist multidisciplinary vulval service. Informed consent is a prerequisite for all examinations, investigations and treatments. Consent is particularly important for intimate examinations of the anogenital area, and a chaperone should be offered in all cases. All efforts should be made to maintain a patient's dignity. Depending on symptoms and risk factors, screening for sexually transmitted infections (STI) should be considered. If the patient presents with vulval itch, particularly if also complaining of increased vaginal discharge, vulvaginal candidiasis should be excluded. Sexual dysfunction should be considered in all patients with vulval complaints, either as the cause of the symptoms or secondary to symptoms, and assessed if appropriate. This guideline covers several aspects, such as diagnosis and treatment, of the more common vulval conditions (relatively) often encountered at vulval clinics, i.e. vulval dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, vulvodynia and vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).

Human papillomavirus 16-specific T cell responses in classic HPV-related vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia. Determination of strongly immunogenic regions from E6 and E7 proteins.

Cell-mediated immunity directed against human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) antigens was studied in 16 patients affected with classic vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia (VIN), also known as bowenoid papulosis (BP). Ten patients had blood lymphocyte proliferative T cell responses directed against E6/2 (14-34) and/or E6/4 (45-68) peptides, which were identified in the present study as immunodominant among HPV-16 E6 and E7 large peptides. Ex vivo enzyme-linked immunospot-interferon (IFN)-gamma assay was positive in three patients who had proliferative responses. Twelve months later, proliferative T cell responses remained detectable in only six women and the immunodominant antigens remained the E6/2 (14-34) and E6/4 (45-68) peptides. The latter large fragments of peptides contained many epitopes able to bind to at least seven human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and were strong binders to seven HLA-DR class II molecules. In order to build a therapeutic anti-HPV-16 vaccine, E6/2 (14-34) and E6/4 (45-68) fragments thus appear to be good candidates to increase HPV-specific effector T lymphocyte responses and clear classic VIN (BP) disease lesions.

[A model-based comparison of cost effectiveness of imiquimod versus podophyllotoxin for the treatment of external anogenital warts in France]. / Comparaison coût-efficacité par modélisation de l'imiquimod et de la podophyllotoxine dans le traitement du condylome acuminé externe en France.

OBJECTIVES: For the National health scheme, to compare the costs and the efficacy of treatment of external anogenital warts with imiquimod and podophyllotoxin and laser therapy in the case of failure or relapse. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A model simulating the two successive treatments was built. In the first phase, the two topical treatments applied by the patients: podophyllotoxin for 4 weeks and imiquimod for 16 weeks were compared. In the case of failure or relapse, laser therapy that is widely used in France in this indication and, was applied. The efficacy of the topical treatments was assessed after reanalysis of the results of two controlled clinical trials versus placebo. These two trials were retained because they were comparable in method and had been recently published at the same time. A review of the literature assessed the results of laser therapy. A survey was conducted to collect the medical resources consumed by the different treatments. RESULTS: Imiquimod provided a clearance rate of 49.5 p. 100, i.e., the disappearance of the lesions at 16 weeks, greater than that of podophyllotoxin (28.3 p. 100) at 4 weeks. The relapse rate was lowest with imiquimod (13.3 p. 100) than with podophyllotoxin (30.9 p. 100). The remission rate without relapse 3 months after the end of treatment was, including the laser, of 62 p. 100 following imiquimod and of 47 p. 100 following podophyllotoxin. The costs per patient cured was of 668 Euros for imiquimod and of 689 Euros for podophyllotoxin. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod, because of its greater initial efficacy, is at least as cost-effective as podophyllotoxin the treatment of external genital warts.

[Treatment of vulvar vestibulitis by posterior vestibulectomy. Twelve case reports]. / Traitement de la vestibulite vulvaire par vestibulectomie postérieure. A propos de 12 cas.

Many patients with dyspareunia suffer from vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. When all conservative treatments have failed, surgery is attempted. We appreciated results and complications of this treatment. During 1993 and 1994, at the gynecological department of the intercommunal hospital of Creteil (France), twelve women suffering from this condition for longer than six months had undergone a posterior crescent-shaped vestibular excision followed by vaginal advancement. Three weeks after surgery, three partial dehiscences have been observed, which secondary healed. The average duration of follow-up was 8 months. The interview of the patients in January 1995 revealed: six patients obtained painless sexual intercourse, four patients improved significantly, one had no improvement and one complained of severe vulvar burning instead of dyspareunia. Our results are weighing against the initial enthusiasm to surgical treatment. Collaboration between gynecologists and psychologists to specify the indications and previous treatment of an associated vaginismus should be helpful for the treatment of these patients.

Vulvar vestibulitis. Lack of evidence for a human papillomavirus etiology.

Prompted by contradictory papers on the subject, we performed a prospective study to assess the possible human papillomavirus (HPV) etiology of vulvar vestibulitis. Eleven patients with periglandular vestibulitis, as well as a control group of 11 patients with condylomata acuminata, were selected. Biopsy specimens were taken for histologic and virologic evaluation. One specimen of vestibulitis showed koilocytosis. Using the polymerase chain reaction, none of the vestibulitis specimens, including the one with koilocytosis, were found to harbor HPV DNA, whereas all the condylomata acuminata contained HPV 6/11 DNA. Our results do not support an HPV etiology of vestibulitis.

[Paget disease of the vulva. 36 cases]. / Maladie de Paget vulvaire: 36 cas.

Thirty six patients with Paget's disease of the vulva were reviewed. The median age of the patients at diagnosis was 67 years (range: 45-91 years). One patient had a history of previous mammary adenocarcinoma. Screening for malignancy revealed two colonic tumours. Two patients with negative screening at presentation developed, 12 and 18 months respectively after vulvectomy, an ovarian carcinoma stage IIc and a cervical and urethral adenocarcinoma. All patients were treated by surgery based on extent of the disease. The operations performed included total vulvectomy (n = 11), partial vulvectomy (n = 14) and wide local excision (n = 4). Out of the 36 patients, 29 were available to follow-up. The median follow-up period was 74 months (range 2-204 months). Three patients died of metastatic disease due to vulval adenocarcinoma and breast carcinoma, or of liver metastases from an unknown adenocarcinoma. Eighteen of the 29 patients followed up remained free of disease. Five out of the 16 patients with positive margins recurred, as did 5 out of 9 patients with negative margins. Treatment of Paget's disease of the vulva is surgical. In order to prevent recurrence, some authors have proposed surgical excision extending beyond the visible clinical lesions with intraoperative frozen sections. The data we recorded show that free margins do not seem to correlate with recurrence, so that large excision beyond the clinical lesion is not useful.

Vestibular papillae of the vulva. Lack of evidence for human papillomavirus etiology.

Vestibular papillae of the vulva are usually considered as anatomical variants of the vestibular mucosa. Clinically, however, they are quite often interpreted as condylomata acuminata and recent studies have suggested that they could be related to human papillomavirus infection. This prompted us to search for human papillomavirus DNA using the Southern blot hybridization technique, by analyzing biopsy specimens taken from 29 patients who presented with papillae of the vestibular mucosa. Human papillomavirus sequences were detected only in two (6.9%) cases. By the same technique, human papillomavirus sequences were detected in 24 (96%) of 25 vulvar warts used as the control specimens. Thus, it appears unlikely that vestibular papillae are related to human papillomavirus infection. They are usually distinguishable from condylomata acuminata by clinical examination alone.

[Vulvovaginogingival syndrome. New characteristic grouping of plurimucous erosive lichen planus]. / Le syndrome vulvo-vagino-gingival. Nouveau groupement caractéristique du lichen plan érosif plurimuqueux.

The triple association of a chronic painful erosive vulvitis, an erosive or desquamative vaginitis and an erosive vestibular gingivitis constitutes a hitherto unreported syndrome. The first 19 cases of this affection seen in the Hôpital Tarnier over the last three years are presented and analyzed, the etiology of these erosive mucosal lesions, limited to three body regions, being lichen planus in each case. Detection of mucosal erosion at one of these three sites now requires clinical investigation of the other two, and biopsy of least one of them from the edge of an eroded zone, as well as search for other-possible mucocutaneous areas of lichen planus. Clinical onset is often asynchronous, one lesion appearing before the others, the simplest to recognize being gingival erosive lichen. In one case, however, peri-erosive lamellar detachments suggested chronic desquamative gingivitis of possible benign pemphigoid origin. Erosive lichen planus of vulva and vagina has not been reported previously. Knowledge of this syndrome allows correlation between lichen planus and certain cases of erosive gingivitis, erythroplastic vulvitis and desquamative vaginitis.