Evaluation of the utility of localized adjuvant radiation for node-negative primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with clear histologic margins.

BACKGROUND: Though the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends consideration of localized adjuvant radiation after clear-margin surgery for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) with large-caliber (≥0.1-mm) nerve invasion (LCNI) and other high-risk features, only a single small study has compared surgery plus adjuvant radiation therapy (S+ART) to surgical monotherapy (SM) for cSCC. OBJECTIVE: Compare S+ART to SM for primary cSCCs with LCNI and other risk factors. METHODS: Matched retrospective cohort study of primary cSCCs (matched on sex, age, immune status, type of surgery, diameter, differentiation, depth, and LCNI) treated with S+ART versus SM. A subgroup analysis of cSCCs with LCNI was performed. RESULTS: In total, 62 cSCCs were included in matched analysis (31 S+ART and 31 SM) and 33 cSCCs in the LCNI analysis (16 S+ART and 17 SM). There were no significant differences in local recurrence, metastasis, or death from disease in either analysis. Risk of local recurrence was low (8%, 7/89), with 3 of the local recurrences being effectively treated upon recurrence. LIMITATIONS: Single academic center and nonrandomized design. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant radiation did not improve outcomes compared with SM due to a low baseline risk of recurrence, although adjuvant radiation for named nerve invasion and LCNI of ≥3 nerves has been shown to improve outcomes in a prior study. Randomized studies are needed to define the subset of cSCC for whom adjuvant radiation has utility.

Eruptive squamous atypia (also known as eruptive keratoacanthoma): Definition of the disease entity and successful management via intralesional 5-fluorouracil.

BACKGROUND: Eruptive squamous atypia (ESA), which is an idiopathic, sometimes koebnerizing, proliferation of atypical but well-differentiated keratinocytes (also termed eruptive keratoacanthoma), is often misdiagnosed as cancer and managed by excisional surgery, provoking further koebnerization. A clear definition of this phenomenon and treatment outcome data are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To define ESA and evaluate efficacy of intralesional (IL) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study examined patients with ESA that arose spontaneously or within a recent surgical scar and was treated with IL 5-FU at a tertiary academic center between January 2008 and December 2016. Complete clearance, partial clearance, and number of surgical excisions performed were tabulated. RESULTS: Of 30 patients with 136 ESA lesions, 20 (67%) had resolution of ESA with IL 5-FU monotherapy. In all, 10 patients (33%) required additional therapy (topical 5-FU, steroids, cryotherapy, or acitretin). No IL 5-FU-treated ESA lesions required surgical excision. The number of excisional procedures decreased significantly (P = .006), with 27 patients (90%) needing fewer excisions 12 months after versus 12 months before initiation of IL 5-FU therapy. Dyspigmentation was the only adverse event. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include retrospective analysis and use of data from a single institution. CONCLUSION: With close clinical monitoring, IL 5-FU can be used to successfully treat ESA.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Incidence, risk factors, diagnosis, and staging.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a malignant proliferation of cutaneous epithelium, represents 20% to 50% of skin cancers. Although the majority of cSCCs are successfully eradicated by surgical excision, a subset of cSCC possesses features associated with a higher likelihood of recurrence, metastasis, and death. The proper identification of these aggressive cSCCs can guide additional work-up and management. In the first article in this continuing medical education series, we discuss the incidence, recurrence rates, mortality rates, and risk factors associated with cSCC and review the staging systems used to stratify patients into high- and low-risk groups. The second article in this series reviews the treatment options for cSCC, with focused attention on the management of high-stage tumors.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Management of advanced and high-stage tumors.

While the majority of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) can be treated surgically, the additional work-up and treatments indicated for high-risk cSCC remain undefined. In recent years, improvements in tumor staging systems have allowed for the more accurate stratification of tumors into high- and low-risk categories. This insight, along with the publication of cSCC guidelines, brings us closer to the development of a consensus approach. The second article in this continuing medical education series addresses in question and answer format the most common questions related to advanced and high-stage cSCCs, with a simplified flowchart. The questions include the following: 1) Does my patient have high-risk cSCC?; 2) What is the next step for patients with cSCC and palpable lymphadenopathy?; 3) In patients with no clinically evident lymphadenopathy, who are candidates for lymph node staging?; 4) What forms of radiologic imaging can help detect subclinical lymph node metastases?; 5) What is the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in cSCC?; 6) Which patients with cSCC need adjuvant radiation therapy?; 7) Is adjuvant chemotherapy an option for patients with high-stage cSCC after surgery?; 8) Are targeted and immunologic therapies an option for advanced cSCC?; 9) How often should I follow up with my patient after he/she has been diagnosed with a high-risk cSCC?; 10) What are the options for chemoprophylaxis in a patient with an increased risk of cSCC?; and 11) What chemopreventive measures can be started in coordination with medical oncology or transplant physicians?

Putative Intravascular Myofibroma Mimicking a Vascular Malformation With Phleboliths.

Myofibroma is a rare, benign myofibroblastic tumor that commonly presents at birth or in early infancy, usually as a painless, slow-growing, solitary, nodular mass. We present a case of a 40-year-old woman with a painful, solitary, myofibroma on the right elbow. The unique features of this case include age and gender of the patient, site, pain on presentation, tumor morphology, and putative intravascular nature of the tumor.

Acquired blue nevus of the nail bed.

Blue nevi are benign proliferations of melaninproducingdendritic melanocytes located in thedermis. These nevi tend to occur mostly on the skin,predominantly on the head and neck, dorsal aspectsof the distal extremities, and the sacral area, butcan also occasionally appear on mucosal surfaces.Blue nevi of the nail apparatus are uncommon. Themajority originate in the nail matrix where there is ahigher density of melanocytes. Herein we report ona 47-year-old man with a rare common blue nevus ofthe nail bed, an area with low melanocyte density. Athorough review of the English language literaturefound no documented cases of acquired blue nevioriginating in the nailbed of the toe.

Dysplastic nevus: Fact and fiction.

The term "dysplastic nevus" (DN) implies that this nevus exists as a distinct and defined entity of potential detriment to its host. We examine the current data, which suggest that this entity exists as histologically and possibly genetically different from common nevus, with some overlapping features. Studies show that a melanoma associated with a nevus is just as likely to arise in a common nevus as in DN. Furthermore, there is no evidence that a histologically defined DN evolves into a melanoma or that the presence of 1 or more DN on an individual patient confers any increased melanoma risk. We suggest that the term "dysplastic nevus" be abandoned so that the focus can shift to confirmed and relevant indicators of melanoma risk, including high nevus counts and large nevus size.

Through the looking glass: Basics and principles of reflectance confocal microscopy.

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) offers high-resolution, noninvasive skin imaging and can help avoid obtaining unnecessary biopsy specimens. It can also increase efficiency in the surgical setting by helping to delineate tumor margins. Diagnostic criteria and several RCM algorithms have been published for the differentiation of benign and malignant neoplasms. We provide an overview of the basic principles of RCM, characteristic RCM features of normal skin and cutaneous neoplasms, and the limitations and future directions of RCM.

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Updated Review.

Representing the second most common skin cancer, the incidence and disease burden of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) continues to increase. Surgical excision of the primary site effectively cures the majority of cSCC cases. However, an aggressive subset of cSCC persists with clinicopathological features that are indicative of higher recurrence, metastasis, and mortality risks. Acceleration of these features is driven by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The past several years have seen remarkable progress in shaping the treatment landscape for advanced cSCC. Risk stratification and clinical management is a top priority. This review provides an overview of the current perspectives on cSCC with a focus on staging, treatment, and maintenance strategies, along with future research directions.

The influence of rurality on melanoma diagnosis in Indiana: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Research from across the United States has shown that rurality is associated with worse melanoma outcomes. In Indiana, nearly a quarter of all residents live in rural counties and an estimated 2180 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2023. AIMS: This study examines how geographical location affects the stage of melanoma diagnosis in Indiana, aiming to identify and address rural health disparities to ultimately ensure equitable care. METHODS AND RESULTS: Demographics and disease characteristics of patients diagnosed with melanoma at Indiana University Health from January 2017 to September 2022 were compared using Students t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests. Patients from rural areas presented with more pathological stage T3 melanomas (15.0% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001) in contrast to their urban counterparts. Additionally, rural patients presented with fewer clinical stage I melanomas (80.8% vs. 89.3%) and more clinical stage II melanomas (19.2% vs. 8.1%), compared to urban patients, with no stage III (p = 0.028). Concerningly, a significantly higher percentage of the rural group (40.7%) had a personal history of BCC compared to the urban group (22.6%) (p = 0.005) and fewer rural patients (78.0%) compared to urban patients (89.4%) received surgical treatment (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Patients from rural counties in Indiana have higher pathological and clinical stage melanoma at diagnosis compared to patients from urban counties. Additionally fewer rural patients receive surgical treatment and may be at higher risk of developing subsequent melanomas.

Normal minimal erythema dose responses in patients with suspected photosensitivity disorders.

PURPOSE: Our study identified the most common diagnoses in patients with a history of photosensitivity or with a photodistributed eruption and normal minimal erythema dose (MED) responses. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the diagnoses and phototest results of 319 patients who were phototested at the New York University Photomedicine Section of the Charles C. Harris Skin and Cancer Pavilion from 1993 to 2009. Patients were phototested if they had a history of photosensitivity or had an eruption with a distribution that suggested photosensitivity. RESULTS: The majority of patients with normal MEDs were diagnosed with polymorphous light eruption, followed by contact or photocontact dermatitis, photodistributed dermatitis not otherwise specified (idiopathic), solar urticaria and photoexacerbated atopic dermatitis. DISCUSSION: The clinical history of photosensitivity and physical findings remain as important metrics in the diagnosis of patients with photodistributed dermatoses and normal MEDs.

Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and transepidermal elimination in lepromatous leprosy: does T-cell plasticity play a role?

BACKGROUND: The longstanding concept of a Th1-Th2 dichotomy in leprosy, with Th1-predominant tuberculoid leprosy and Th2-predominant lepromatous leprosy (LL), has recently been challenged, and Cbl-b overexpression may emerge as an important factor in anergy and progression of LL. Moreover, Th17 and Th22 subsets have been identified as Th1-Th2 modulators in inflammatory skin diseases, most notably psoriasis, but their roles in leprosy have not yet been elucidated. The occurrence of pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH) with transepidermal elimination of mycobacteria in LL patients, which could theoretically be a portal for contact transmission, thus raises important immunological questions: Do Th17 and/or Th22 subsets mediate epidermal proliferation akin to Th1-driven psoriasis in supposedly Th2-predominant LL disease, and is the Th1-Th2 immunostat set systemically or locally? Furthermore, which microRNAs (miRs), signal transducers, and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins regulate this transition in leprosy, if any, and does differential Cb1-b expression play a role? OBSERVATION: A 71-year-old man presented with an infiltrative dermopathy characteristic of LL, as well as several hyperkeratotic plaques. Microscopic examination of the hyperkeratotic lesions demonstrated PEH with loss of the grenz zone and transepidermal elimination of acid-fast bacilli, whereas classic histopathologic features of LL were present at other sites. HYPOTHESES: We hypothesize that: Th17 and Th22 T-cell subsets act locally to induce T-cell plasticity in LL lesions, manifesting PEH; miR-181a is normal or increased in LL lesions with PEH compared to its expressional loss in classic LL lesions; miR-21 and STAT3 are increased in LL lesions with PEH, given their association with epithelial hyperproliferation; and Cbl-b is diminished in LL lesions with PEH compared to classic LL lesions. CONCLUSION: By understanding the factors that regulate T-cell and cytokine responses in leprosy, it should be possible to recognize these dynamic immunologic processes clinically and histopathologically and devise specific immunologic interventions.

Hydrocolloid dressing versus conventional wound care after dermatologic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocolloid dressings (HCD) are helpful in chronic wound care, but research is limited in acute postoperative wounds. HCD can potentially be incorporated into a simplified wound care regimen after excisional surgeries. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a one-time HCD application after dermatologic surgery results in greater patient satisfaction and improved postoperative outcomes compared with conventional daily dressings (CDD). METHODS: We examined patients who underwent Mohs or standard surgical excision with linear closure followed by HCD. The patients additionally had a history of excisional surgery with CDD in the past 5 years. A modified version of the validated Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire was administered. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 74.4% (64/86). Compared with CDD, HCD rated higher in comfort, convenience, scar appearance, and simplicity of wound care instructions (P < .0001). Nearly all patients (96.8%) preferred HCD over CDD. LIMITATIONS: Variability in time from prior dermatologic surgery may introduce recall bias. Prior surgeries involving CDD were sometimes performed by a different surgeon, which could introduce other confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: A simplified wound care regimen involving HCD can potentially lead to increased comfort, convenience, simplicity, and a subjective improvement in scar appearance, though additional studies are needed.

Research Techniques Made Simple: Noninvasive Imaging Technologies for the Delineation of Basal Cell Carcinomas.

In this article we discuss the development of noninvasive imaging modalities to help delineate tumor margins of basal cell carcinomas in the setting of Mohs micrographic surgery. A review of the available literature reveals that dermoscopy can help delineate basal cell carcinomas before surgical removal but that it has no benefit over clinical inspection in reducing the number of Mohs stages. In contrast, fluorescence confocal microscopy has a sensitivity of 88-96% and specificity of 89-99% for the detection of basal cell carcinomas and can potentially serve as a rapid means for tumor evaluation on ex vivo specimens. Optical coherence tomography has shown some success in the presurgical evaluation of tumor margins in vivo, before surgical excision. With ongoing developments in device portability, speed of image retrieval, and image resolution, these technologies are likely to gain traction in cutaneous oncology research and practice. It is therefore important for dermatology clinicians and researchers to understand the mechanisms, principal uses, advantages, and limitations of each device.

Basics of Confocal Microscopy and the Complexity of Diagnosing Skin Tumors: New Imaging Tools in Clinical Practice, Diagnostic Workflows, Cost-Estimate, and New Trends.

The use of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and other noninvasive imaging devices can potentially streamline clinical care, leading to more precise and efficient management of skin cancer. This article explores the potential role of RCM in cutaneous oncology, as an adjunct to more established techniques of detecting and monitoring for skin cancer, such as dermoscopy and total body photography. Discussed are current barriers to the adoption of RCM, diagnostic workflows and standards of care in the United States and Europe, and medicolegal issues. The potential role of RCM and other similar technological innovations in the enhancement of dermatologic care is evaluated.