Surgical scar remodelling after photodynamic therapy using aminolaevulinic acid or its methylester: a retrospective, blinded study of patients with field cancerization.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a nonsurgical alternative to conventional tumour excision for nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). OBJECTIVES: We evaluated whether patients with field cancerization (multiple NMSCs) treated with aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) or its methylester (MAL) for that indication had PDT-induced changes in surgical scars in the treatment field. METHODS: Six adult patients with multiple NMSCs and a total of 21 scars from previous excisions were studied in a retrospective blinded evaluation from clinical photographs of scar response to ALA/MAL-PDT. After a 3-h application of topical 20% ALA or 16·8% MAL under occlusion, each field was irradiated with 635-nm light-emitting diode light at the fluence of 200Jcm(-2) . Patients underwent one to three PDT sessions per field at ∼1month intervals, to fields that included scars on the back, thigh, arms and neck. Pre- and post-treatment digital photographs of scars were combined into 92 pairs that were independently and blindly evaluated by three board-certified dermatologists. This study was performed at our academic practice at the Massachusetts General Hospital. RESULTS: PDT produced a statistically significant improvement in scar appearance. The degree of improvement correlated with the number of treatment sessions (two or three treatments; P<0·05). Improvement after a single treatment was not statistically different from baseline ratings (P=0·99). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical scar remodelling and clinical improvement may be accomplished via ALA/MAL-PDT, but may require repeated treatment sessions. Larger, prospective studies are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of PDT for this indication.

Progression to invasive melanoma from malignant melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type.

We have previously hypothesized that lesions that have been termed lentigo maligna can be divided into 2 categories: 1 represents a pigmented lesion that is a precursor to melanoma, and the other melanoma in situ. We and others have hypothesized that there is a progressive acquisition of attributes in pigmented lesions that results in malignant melanoma. Based on these 2 hypotheses, we have predicted that the intraepidermal component of invasive malignant melanomas, lentigo maligna type, should be similar to those lesions that we have termed malignant melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type rather than lentigo maligna. The intraepidermal component of 42 consecutive cases of invasive malignant melanoma, lentigo maligna type was evaluated by all of the authors. Malignant melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type is characterized by pagetoid spread, confluence, and nesting of atypical melanocytes. All of the cases evaluated showed features diagnostic of malignant melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type, in the epidermis overlying the invasive dermal component. We conclude that invasive lentigo maligna melanoma arises in association with those lesions that we have termed malignant melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type, which may represent a step in the progression between atypical melanocytic hyperplasia (lentigo maligna) and invasive melanoma. This finding supports the distinction of these entities and may have therapeutic implications.

Single-exhalation profiles of NO and CO2 in humans: effect of dynamically changing flow rate.

Endogenous production of nitric oxide (NO) in the human lungs has many important pathophysiological roles and can be detected in the exhaled breath. An understanding of the factors that dictate the shape of the NO exhalation profile is fundamental to our understanding of normal and diseased lung function. We collected single-exhalation profiles of NO and CO2 from normal human subjects after inhalation of ambient air (approximately 15 parts/billion) and examined the effect of a 15-s breath hold and exhalation flow rate (VE) on the following features of the NO profile: 1) series dead space, 2) average concentration in phase III with respect to time and volume, 3) normalized slope of phase III with respect to time and volume, and 4) elimination rate at end exhalation. The dead space is approximately 50% smaller for NO than for CO2 and is substantially reduced after a breath hold. The concentration of exhaled NO is inversely related to VE, but the average NO concentration with respect to time has a stronger inverse relationship than that with respect to volume. The normalized slope of phase III NO with respect to time and that with respect to volume are negative at a constant VE but can be made to change signs if the flow rate continuously decreases during the exhalation. In addition, NO elimination at end exhalation vs. VE produces a nonzero intercept and slope that are subject dependent and can be used to quantitate the relative contribution of the airways and the alveoli to exhaled NO. We conclude that exhaled NO has an airway and an alveolar source.

Preoperative risk factors for postoperative delirium.

The objective of this article was to estimate the incidence of delirium in a sample of patients undergoing elective surgery and to identify the preoperative factors most closely associated with developing this complication. Consecutive patients (n=500) underwent a full preoperative medical evaluation including assessment of cognitive and functional status. Daily evaluation on postoperative days 1 through 4 included medical record review and direct standardized patient interviews. Logistic regression was used to explore the associations between preoperative factors and postoperative delirium. Delirium was detected in 57 (11.4%) patients. Univariate factors associated with delirium included age> or =70 years (RR=3.1 [1.75,5.55]), preexisting cognitive impairment (RR=3.1 [1.73, 5.43]), greater preoperative functional limitations (RR=1.57 [1.27, 1.94]), and a history of prior delirium (RR 4.1 [1.98 to 8.27]. Adjusting for other factors, previous delirium (OR=4.08 [1.85, 9.0]), age> or =70 years (OR=3.2 [1.6, 6.0], and preexisting cognitive impairment (OR=2.16 [1.15, 4.0] remained predictive of delirium. Patients' perceptions that alcohol had affected their health (OR=6.53 [1.58 to 28.1]) and use of narcotic analgesics just prior to admission (OR=2.7 [1.37 to 5.3]) were also significantly associated with delirium postoperatively. Several easily obtained preoperative clinical factors can be used to identify patients at risk for postoperative delirium. This approach, when combined with specialized delirium teams using established guidelines, may be more effective in targeting patients at risk, thus reducing the number of episodes and days of delirium.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip: is acetabular retroversion a crucial factor?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate a possible relation between congenital hip dysplasia and acetabular retroversion and to explore the eventual influence of the latter in the surgical decision for periacetabular osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the classical morphological characteristics of both hips, with an additional newly described retroversion index. The study was conducted in 174 patients with uni- or bilateral congenital hip dysplasia having undergone unilateral (153 patients) or bilateral (21 patients) periacetabular osteotomy when respectively one or both dysplastic hips remained symptomatic. RESULTS: In the group of operated hips (195 hips in total), 53% of the acetabuli were anteverted, 42% retroverted, and 5% neutral orientations. The group of nonoperated hips (153 hips) included 24% normal hips, 22% hips with normal coverage but retroverted, 35% dysplastic hips with anteverted or neutral orientation, and 19% dysplastic retroverted hips. Comparing the two hips in the subgroup of patients in whom the operated and nonoperated sides were both dysplastic failed to demonstrate statistically significant difference in the mean retroversion index. However, all the other variables measured were significantly different; with the operated side more dysplastic. Comparing the two hips in the other subgroups showed that acetabular retroversion was nearly always bilateral and symmetrical, even in presence of unilateral congenital dysplasia. DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that the presence of acetabular retroversion is probably independent of the congenital hip dysplasia and that this abnormality seems at best a secondary factor in the appearance of dysplastic hip symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective diagnostic study.

The spinal curvature irregularity index independently identifies vertebral fractures.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The spinal curvature irregularity index (SCII) is a quantitative measure of the irregularity of the spinal curvature. We evaluated the predictive ability of SCII to identify subjects with vertebral fractures (VF). METHODS: Vertebral heights were measured by quantitative vertebral morphometry in 461 Lebanese women 20-89 years of age and VFs were ascertained by the grade 1 Eastell method. SCII scores were log-transformed and expressed as Z-SCII, the number of standard deviations above or below the mean ln(SCII) of young patients without VF. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to identify clinical predictors of VF. RESULTS: Women with a higher SCII were more likely to have prevalent VF. A higher SCII was associated with a greater prevalence of VF within each category of femoral neck BMD (normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis). In univariate analysis, predictors of VF included Z-SCII (odds ratio, OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.80-2.71) and femoral neck T-score (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12-1.63). In multivariate analysis, predictors of VF were: Z-SCII (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.02-2.32), femoral neck T-score (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.11-1.78) and age(3) (OR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.10-1.82). At a cutoff SCII of 9.5%, the sensitivity and specificity of SCII for VF were 71 and 64% respectively, and higher SCII cutoffs identified VFs with greater specificity. CONCLUSION: The SCII is a robust, simple and independent indicator of the presence of VFs.

Syringolymphoid hyperplasia and follicular mucinosis in a patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Syringolymphoid hyperplasia with alopecia is an uncommon chronic dermatosis of which 9 cases have been reported, with or without follicular mucinosis or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. We report a patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and syringolymphoid hyperplasia and follicular mucinosis and review the previously reported cases. All reported cases with syringolymphoid hyperplasia were men (10 of 10), with the clinical findings of alopecia (9 of 10) and anhidrosis (3 of 10). Only 3 of 10 cases had associated follicular mucinosis. Of the 7 cases investigated, 6 were found to hve cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Three patients were not investigated for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Although syringolymphoid hyperplasia can be idiopathic, it can also reflect a syringotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Careful follow-up with a biopsy of persistent lesions is recommended to evaluate for the presence of lymphoma.

Rapidly progressing mycosis fungoides presenting as follicular mucinosis.

Follicular mucinosis can occur as a primary idiopathic disorder or can arise in association with benign or malignant disease, most notably mycosis fungoides. We describe a patient with an aggressive folliculotropic variant of mycosis fungoides that initially presented as follicular mucinosis with alopecia. One month after the diagnosis of follicular mucinosis, a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides was made, and 3 months later inguinal lymph node involvement with mycosis fungoides developed. A skin biopsy specimen demonstrated prominent follicular mucinosis with folliculotropism of atypical cells and intrafollicular Pautrier's microabscesses. As demonstrated in this case, follicular mucinosis can be a presenting sign of rapidly progressive mycosis fungoides. In our review of follicular mucinosis and its association with mycosis fungoides, we found that the folliculotropic variant of mycosis fungoides appears more commonly to have an aggressive course than classic mycosis fungoides.