Melanoma arising from a plaque-type blue naevus with subcutaneous cellular nodules of the scalp.

Plaque-type blue naevus (PTBN) is a very rare variant of blue naevus (BN). The potential malignancy of subcutaneous cellular nodules (SCN) in PTBN was discovered in 2012, and there is currently no clear consensus on prognostic factors or management guidelines of such lesions. PTBN on the scalp have not been described in the literature. We report the clinical, histopathological and immunohistological features of a 50-year-old man who presented with a 30-year history of scalp PTBN, with malignant proliferation of nodular elements and fatal outcome 8 years later. This case suggests that long-term monitoring of patients with PTBN is required. Early surgical removal of such lesions should be considered, especially in the presence of any case of enlargement or change.

Benign and malignant collision tumors of melanocytic skin lesions with hemangioma: Dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy features.

BACKGROUND: Though the combination/collision of nevi or lentigo simplex and hemangiomas is frequent, the malignant collision tumor melanoma-hemangioma is exceptional and can sometime clinically simulate a benign collision. To date, a series of collision tumors of hemangiomas associated with either benign or malignant melanocytic skin lesions (MSL) has yet to be studied by non-invasive imaging and clinico-pathologic correlates. METHODS: We present 10 cases of patients with collision tumors of hemangioma with different MSL including: 2 in situ lentigo-maligna melanoma, 1 invasive melanoma, 5 melanocytic nevi, and 2 lentigo simplex. The clinical aspect along with the dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features is described and compared with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Dermoscopic examination allows to recognize a dark ring in malignant collision melanoma-hemangioma and a jelly ring sign in benign collision of nevi/lentigo simplex-hemangioma. These peculiar features were confirmed by RCM and histopathologic findings. CONCLUSION: Two simple dermoscopic clues confirmed by RCM features can be proposed to help distinguish between benign and malignant collisions tumors.

An integrated clinical-dermoscopic risk scoring system for the differentiation between early melanoma and atypical nevi: the iDScore.

BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy revealed to be extremely useful in the diagnosis of early melanoma, the most important limitation being its subjectivity in giving a final diagnosis. To overcome this problem, several algorithms and checklists have been proposed. However, they generally demonstrated modest level of diagnostic accuracy, unsatisfactory concordance between dermoscopists and/or poor specificity. OBJECTIVE: To test a new methodological approach for the differentiation between early melanoma and atypical nevi, based on an integrated clinical-anamnestic dermoscopic risk scoring system (iDScore). METHODS: We selected a total of 435 standardized dermoscopic images of clinically atypical melanocytic skin lesion (MSL) excised in the suspect of malignancy (i.e. 134 early melanomas - MM - and 301 atypical nevi). Data concerning patient age and sex and lesion dimension and site were collected. A scoring classifier was designed based on this data set integrated with the dermoscopic evaluations performed by three experts blinded to histological diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of seven dermoscopic structures, three age groups (30-40 years, 41-60 years and >60 years), two maximum diameter categories (5-10 mm and >10 mm) and three body areas (i.e. frequently, chronically and seldom photoexposed sites) were selected by the scoring classifier as interdependently significant variables. The total risk score (S) of a lesion resulted from the simple sum of partial scores assigned to each selected variable. The iDScore-aided diagnosis showed an high accuracy (receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve = 0.903; IC: 95% = 0.887-0.918). A risk-based criticality scale corresponding to different S ranges was proposed. CONCLUSION: The iDScore checklist is proposed as a feasible and efficient tool to support dermatologists in non-invasive differentiation between atypical nevi and early MM on the basis of few selected clinical-anamnestic data and standardized dermoscopic features.

Prediction of a nail polish colour applied on a nail.

OBJECTIVE: The colour of a nail polish varies according to the nail on which it is applied. The objective of this study was to predict the colour of the nail polish on a given nail and to study how the colour varies depending on the nail polish thickness. METHODS: Six nail polishes were applied in one, two and three layers on the nails of one subject, thus forming eighteen samples. The spectral reflectances of the eighteen nail polishes applied on the nails with different thicknesses were obtained by spectrophotometry. The spectral reflectances of the nails without polish were also measured using the same technique. The thicknesses of nail polishes were measured by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT). Then, to determine the physical parameters of the nail polish itself, we applied the six nail polishes on an opacity drawdown chart and we measured the spectral reflectance and the thickness of each patch using spectrophotometry and HD-OCT, respectively. The Kubelka-Munk theory was used to get the predicted spectral reflectance of the nail polish applied on the nail according to the polish thickness by knowing the parameter of the polish itself and the spectral reflectance of the nail. The predicted spectral reflectances were finally compared with those measured directly on the nails. RESULTS: The predicted spectral reflectances were rather close to measured ones. Consequently, knowing the colour of the nail without polish and the optical parameters of the nail polish itself, we can estimate the colour of the nail polish applied on the nail depending on its thickness. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the Kubelka-Munk theory can be used to predict the nail polish colour. The ability to predict the real colour of a nail polish applied on a nail could help a nail polish manufacturer to improve his polish formulae in order to obtain a precise colour.

Use of bioactive materials and limited FOV CBCT in the treatment of a replanted permanent tooth affected by inflammatory external root resorption: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory external root resorption is one of the possible complications of replantation of an avulsed tooth. Several studies have shown that limited FOV CBCT is an efficient diagnostic support and in treatment planning of these cases in paediatric patients because of its high resolution combined with low radiation doses. The recent literature has suggested that Biodentine is an effective material for resolution of inflammatory root resorption. CASE REPORT: This article describes the successful therapy of a replanted tooth affected by inflammatory root resorption. In the present case, a CBCT exam was performed to detect the extent of the damage, and the canal was filled with Biodentine in the apical third. At present, the threated tooth is asymptomatic, and the twelve months follow-up examination showed healing of periradicular hard tissues.

Assessment of cryopreserved donor skin viability: the experience of the regional tissue bank of Siena.

Skin allografts from cadaver donors are an important resource for treating extensive burns, slow-healing wounds and chronic ulcers. A high level of cell viability of cryopreserved allografts is often required, especially in burn surgery, in Italy. Thus, we aimed to determine which conditions enable procurement of highly viable skin in our Regional Skin Bank of Siena. For this purpose, we assessed cell viability of cryopreserved skin allografts procured between 2011 and 2013 from 127 consecutive skin donors, before and after freezing (at day 15, 180, and 365). For each skin donor, we collected data concerning clinical history (age, sex, smoking, phototype, dyslipidemia, diabetes, cause of death), donation process (multi-tissue or multi-organ) and timing of skin procurement (assessment of intervals such as death-harvesting, harvesting-banking, death-banking). All these variables were analysed in the whole case study (127 donors) and in different groups (e.g. multi-organ donors, non refrigerated multi-tissue donors, refrigerated multi-tissue donors) for correlations with cell viability. Our results indicated that cryopreserved skin allografts with higher cell viability were obtained from female, non smoker, heartbeating donors died of cerebral haemorrhage, and were harvested within 2 h of aortic clamping and banked within 12 h of harvesting (13-14 h from clamping). Age, cause of death and dyslipidaemia or diabetes did not appear to influence cell viability. To maintain acceptable cell viability, our skin bank needs to reduce the time interval between harvesting and banking, especially for refrigerated donors.

Dermatological conditions presenting at the Emergency Department in Siena University Hospital from 2006 to 2011.

BACKGROUND: Published studies on emergency dermatology consultations are few because there are few dermatology emergency units in the world. No study has yet described the Italian situation. OBJECTIVES: To quantify and characterize patients evaluated in our dermatology emergency unit from 2006 to 2011. METHODS: We studied personal details, diagnosis, annual trend of cases, emergency level and hospitalization of dermatology cases over the 6-year period. RESULTS: A total of 12,226 patients were evaluated. The most numerous diagnostic group was infections (27.1%), followed by non-specific and descriptive diagnosis (22.5%), skin conditions caused by mechanical or physical agents (13.1%), eczematous diseases (10.5%), insect bites (9.5%) and urticaria/angio-oedema (8.8%). The most common indications for admission to hospital were skin conditions caused by mechanical or physical agents (33.3%), infections (27.5%), drug eruption (15.9%) and autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (7.4%). Emergency dermatology cases followed a variable annual trend, with more consultations in the summer months. CONCLUSION: This is the first long-term retrospective analysis of a large series of dermatology emergency patients. It provides useful quantitative and qualitative information on cases for physicians and the national health system for the purposes of improving patient care and cost-effectiveness.

Degos disease: report of a case and review of the literature.

We report the case of a 20-year-old woman with one-year history of asymptomatic pink papules on the abdomen, with central atrophy. Fever and symptoms suggesting involvement of other organs were absent. Histological examination revealed wedge-shaped area of cutaneous ischemia extending into the deep dermis with superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. On this basis, we diagnosed malignant atrophic papulosis. Laboratory tests and instrumental investigation did not reveal any systemic involvement. The rarity of this disease makes early diagnosis challenging, even if clinical and histological patterns of the skin lesions are peculiar.

Extracorporeal photopheresis: a useful therapy for patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease but not for the prevention of the chronic form.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been used successfully to treat severe steroid-refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD, cGVHD) since the late 1990s. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate retrospectively the efficacy and safety of ECP in patients with aGVHD. We also assessed whether ECP may play a role in the prevention of cGVHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine consecutive patients with allografts with aGVHD grade II-III, as defined by consensus criteria, and refractory to steroids, were treated with ECP. ECP was started at a median interval of 46·3 days (range 10-70) from aGVHD onset. Patients were treated initially on two consecutive days (one cycle) at 1-week intervals until improvement and then every 2 weeks. Treatment was then tapered off individually. To evaluate statistical relationships with outcome after 30, 60 and 90 days of ECP, all clinical and historical variables of the patients before treatment were analysed. RESULTS: All patients survived and responded within 90 days. The average aGVHD score was 1·72 at aGVHD onset, 2·44 when ECP was started and then gradually declined to 0·44 on day 90. At the same time, the average dose of methylprednisolone declined from 2·22 mg kg(-1) to 0·27 mg kg(-1) (day 90), while the average dose of ciclosporin declined from 2·46 mg kg(-1) to 0·77 mg kg(-1) (day 90). Six of nine patients showed a complete skin response after 90 days of treatment. All patients with liver and gastrointestinal tract involvement had complete responses after 90 days, apart from one patient. All our patients developed cGVHD, seven of nine while still on maintenance regimen (6-13 months after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, HSCT) and the other two patients after suspension of ECP (6 and 9 months after HSCT). CONCLUSIONS: ECP is effective in patients with mild to moderate steroid-refractory aGVHD (grade II-III). On the other hand, ECP did not prevent the development of cGVHD in our patients.

A simple scoring system for the diagnosis of palmo-plantar pigmented skin lesions by digital dermoscopy analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many research groups have recently developed equipments and statistical methods enabling pattern classification of pigmented skin lesions. To differentiate between benign and malignant ones, the mathematical extraction of digital patterns together with the use of appropriate statistical approaches is a challenging task. OBJECTIVE: To design a simple scoring model that provides accurate classification of benign and malignant palmo-plantar pigmented skin lesions, by evaluation of parameters obtained by digital dermoscopy analysis (DDA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present study we used a digital dermoscopy analyser to evaluate a series of 445 palmo-plantar melanocytic skin lesion images (25 melanomas 420 nevi). Area under the receiver operator curve, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of our scoring model for the differentiation of benign and malignant palmo-plantar melanocytic lesions. RESULTS: Model performance reached a very high value (0.983). The DDA parameters selected by the model that proved statistically significant were: area, peripheral dark regions, total imbalance of colours, entropy, dark area and red and blue multicomponent. When all seven model variables were used in a multivariate mode, setting sensitivity at 100% to avoid false negatives, we estimated a minimum specificity of about 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Simplicity of use and effectiveness of implementation are important requirements for the success of quantitative methods in routine clinical practice. Scoring systems meet these requirements. Their outcomes are accessible in real time without the use of any data processing system, thus allowing decisions to be made quickly and effectively.

Expression of RXFP1 in skin of scleroderma patients and control subjects.

OBJECTIVES: Relaxin (RLX) is involved in extracellular matrix and collagen remodelling. The therapeutic role of the circulating isoform RLX-2 as an anti-fibrotic factor in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been investigated. Several RLX family peptide receptors (RXFPs) are recognized in humans: RLX-2 is a ligand for RXFP1/LGR7 and RXFP2/LGR8. The aim of this study was to define the pattern of expression of LGR7 in different types of human skin cells and to compare normal skin with lesional and unaffected skin from patients with limited SSc (lSSc). METHOD: We analysed RXFP1 immunolocalization on skin biopsies and cultured fibroblasts from lSSc patients and control subjects. Western blot analysis was carried out on fibroblast lysates. RESULTS: RXFP1 showed cytoplasmic localization on skin cells from control subjects and non-lesional skin from lSSc patients: keratinocytes, gland epithelial cells, endothelium, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts. Immunogold electron microscopy confirmed a diffuse epithelial cytoplasmic localization of RXFP1. A substantially lower RXFP1 expression was observed in scleroderma skin, with a lack of staining in most cells. Occasional weak reactivity was observed in cultured scleroderma fibroblasts, while control fibroblasts showed a diffuse cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of RXFP1, confirmed by Western blot analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased cellular expression of RLX-2 receptor RXFP1 in scleroderma skin might represent a pro-fibrotic factor and contribute to the substantial inefficacy of RLX treatment in SSc, as reported in the literature. The pathophysiology of the decrease in RXFP1 may be linked to high RLX-2 serum levels previously detected in SSc, but it has yet to be elucidated.

Dermoscopy and digital dermoscopy analysis of palmoplantar 'equivocal' pigmented skin lesions in Caucasians.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The diagnosis of palmoplantar melanoma is often delayed and misdiagnosis is common, due to frequently unusual clinical presentation. We used a digital dermoscopy analyzer with a series of palmoplantar pigmented skin lesions (PP-PSL), and we compared sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy obtained with digital dermoscopy analysis (DDA) and classical dermoscopy. METHODS: Digital dermoscopy images of 107 PP-PSL were retrospectively obtained from the database of images of 3 Italian centers. The lesions (25 melanomas and 82 nevi) were all removed because of the presence of clinical and/or dermoscopic suspicious features. All digital images were analyzed using appropriate algorithms, and the diagnostic accuracy of the model was calculated. For comparison, dermoscopic images were clinically evaluated by two dermatologists and the Cohen ĸ concordance with DDA was calculated. RESULTS: The stepwise logistic regression analysis selected only 5 parameters out of 49. The logistic model achieved a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 87.8%. The Cohen ĸ concordance, evaluated by the Landis and Koch scale, supplied a substantial agreement between dermoscopy and DDA. CONCLUSIONS: DDA might be a useful diagnostic instrument in the evaluation of preselected PP-PSL. However, these findings should be confirmed in a formal clinical trial.

Skin diseases in geriatric patients: our experience from a public skin outpatient clinic in Siena.

AIM: With the progressive aging of the Italian population, geriatric health care has become a major issue for health authorities. However, little data is available regarding geriatric skin diseases. In order to provide rapid access to specialist help, in 2003 we created a dermatology clinic dedicated only to geriatric patients age 65 and older. METHODS: To determine the characteristic pattern and the prevalence of various skin disorders among the geriatric patients seen at the clinic, we performed a retrospective and descriptive study of all skin diseases in patients seen in our office from January 2003 to December 2009. We evaluated: age, proportion and gender for all skin disease categories. RESULTS: A total of 2100 geriatric patients were examined. The male to female ratio was 1.4 to 1. The most common disorder was pruritus "sine materia" (18.9%) followed by benign tumors (13.5%); 9.1% of our patients presented with actinic keratoses and 13.2% with malignant tumors. As reported by others, the quality of life in patients with skin cancer was better than patients with rashes as skin cancer patients tended to wait longer before seeking specialist care. To improve the assessment of skin diseases, we often worked closely with CONCLUSION: The prevalence of skin diseases in our patients emphasized the importance of educating the elderly about sun protection, the early detection of skin cancer, the use of emollients and proper skin care in general.

Papular-purpuric "gloves and socks" syndrome.

Papular-purpuric "gloves and socks" syndrome (PPGSS), is an acute dermatosis characterized by a papular-purpuric edematous rash in a distinct ''gloves and socks'' distribution often accompanied by fever, asthenia and lymphadenophaties. It is mainly caused by parvovirus B19 (B19V) but other viruses and drugs such as trimethoprim/sulfametaxol or chemotherapics may be involved. We describe a case of PPGSS with a serologically proven B19V infection in a 42-year-old Italian kindergarten teacher suffering from acute bacterial pharyngitis Immunoglobulin M by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to parvovirus B19 were positive. Histological examination showed dermal-ipodermal inflammation with evidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis principally interesting the small venules The cutaneous rash resolved after 2 weeks. We reported our case to support that PPGSS is an immunomediated disease and that B19V morbidity varies with the immunologic and hematologic status of the host. In addition, a patient with PPGSS might be infectious at the moment of diagnosis, with significant implication for susceptible contacts.