The association between skin cancer and HIV infection.

Background People affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), are burdened by a higher risk of developing malignancies including non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and melanoma skin cancer. Objective To evaluate the association of HIV with melanoma and NMSC at a University Hospital. Methods This is a cross-sectional retrospective study of HIV-infected and a matched comparison group, analyzing the associations between skin cancer and HIV infection. Results Compared to the HIV-uninfected, HIV-infected had 80% association with skin cancer (CI 95%: 1.3-2.4, P = 0.001) The risk was 45-fold higher by patients" age (CI 95%: 3.3-15.9: P = 0.001). When adjusted for patient age, sex and race, the risk was 6.4 fold ligher of having cancer if compared to the others (CI 95%: 49-84, P = 0.001). Melanoma was not found in HIV-infected. Conclusion With this study, we have demonstrated that HIV-infected patients have an increased risk of BCC and SCC. Preventive dermatologic management is pivotal in the care of immunosuppressed patients. These patients must undergo the dermatological examination annually and should receive extensive counseling regarding sun avoidance, use of sunscreens,and sun-protective clothing.

Cross-sectional study of acral melanoma awareness in a group of South African final phase medical students.

BACKGROUND: Acral melanoma refers to melanoma arising on the palms, soles and nail unit, which are sun-protected areas and ultraviolet exposure is not a risk factor. Acral melanoma is associated with a poorer prognosis than other melanoma subtypes most likely due to the high rates of delayed diagnosis. Acral melanoma affects all skin types equally. There is a misconception that people with more pigmented skin types (Fitzpatrick 4-6) do not develop melanoma, due to the protective effect of melanin. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine acral melanoma knowledge and awareness of a group of South African, final phase medical students. METHODS: This was a quantitative and cross-sectional study. A questionnaire consisting of 20 clinical images of skin lesions requiring a diagnosis and management plan was distributed. Responses to six images of melanomas were analysed. Further questions to measure acral melanoma knowledge and related issues were included in the study. A biostatistician appropriately managed statistical analysis. RESULTS: Hundred and one final phase medical students' answers were gathered and analysed. Only 7.9% of the participants diagnosed all six melanomas correctly; 61.4% correctly diagnosed ≥50% of the melanomas. While 77.2% of the participants identified all non-acral cutaneous melanoma correctly, only 8.9% identified all acral melanomas. However, of all participants making the correct diagnosis, >90% selected the appropriate management plan (urgent referral). LIMITATIONS: This study examined a small sample of trainee healthcare workers. The results cannot be assumed to apply to all South African healthcare workers. Responses given in a questionnaire may not reflect actual behaviour. The dermatology division in question has made acral melanoma a research priority, thus acral melanoma knowledge in this group may in fact be better than in other institutions. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that groups of imminent doctors have low rates of recognition of melanoma, particularly acral melanoma. This is consistent with high levels of primary misdiagnosis of acral melanoma reported in the literature. Fortunately, these participants managed the melanomas they diagnosed appropriately in >90% of cases. This confirms that the deficit in the participant group is awareness and knowledge. Those aware of the disease immediately acknowledged the need for urgent referral.

Human leukocyte antigen Class II alleles associated with acral lentiginous melanoma in Mexican Mestizo patients: A case-control study.

Background Melanoma is an aggressive cutaneous cancer. Acral lentiginous melanoma is a melanoma subtype arising on palms, soles, and nail-units. The incidence, prevalence and prognosis differ among populations. The link between expression of major histocompatibility complex Class II alleles and melanoma progression is known. However, available studies report variable results regarding the association of melanoma with specific HLA Class II loci. Aims The aim of the study was to determine HLA Class II allele frequencies in acral lentiginous melanoma patients and healthy Mexican Mestizo individuals. Methods Eighteen patients with acral lentiginous melanoma and 99 healthy controls were recruited. HLA Class II typing was performed based on the sequence-specific oligonucleotide method. Results Three alleles were associated with increased susceptibility to develop acral lentiginous melanoma, namely: HLA-DRB1*13:01; pC = 0.02, odds ratio = 6.1, IC95% = 1.4-25.5, HLA-DQA1*01:03; pC = 0.001, odds ratio = 9.3, IC95% = 2.7-31.3 and HLA-DQB1*02:02; pC = 0.01, odds ratio = 3.7, IC95% = 1.4-10.3. Limitations The small sample size was a major limitation, although it included all acral lentiginous melanoma patients seen at the dermatology department of Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital during the study period. Conclusion HLA-DRB1*13:01, HLA-DQB1*02:02 and HLA-DQA*01:03 alleles are associated with increased susceptibility to develop acral lentiginous melanoma in Mexican Mestizo patients.

Need to restage Korean melanoma patients following publication of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual.

BACKGROUND: The tumor, nodes and metastasis (TNM) classification and stage grouping have been updated in the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging manual. However, restaging all the previous cases are not recommended. AIMS: The aims of the study were to investigate the necessity of restaging Korean melanoma patients staged by the previous edition of the AJCC manual. METHODS: Differences in the staging criteria of the 7th and 8th editions of the AJCC manual were identified. The staging of 276 primary melanomas from January 2011 to December 2018 was classified by both 7th and 8th editions of the manual and their differences were compared. RESULTS: Staging by 7th and 8th edition of the AJCC manual differed in 64 cases (23.2%). The pathological prognostic staging changed in 35 (12.7%), and 29 (10.5%) had changes in only TNM classification but not the pathological staging. None of the patients needed additional sentinel lymph node biopsy or systemic treatment as a result of restaging. Additional counseling was needed for the patients, because melanoma-specific survival was increased in the 8th edition. LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective study with relatively small number of patients at a single tertiary center in Korea. CONCLUSION: Assessment of the need for additional sentinel lymph node biopsy or systemic treatment is recommended because of the latest changes in the AJCC melanoma staging manual. Although the restaging of previously staged melanomas is not significantly needed in our patients, still the differences in TNM classification and/or pathological prognostic staging suggest the need to separately recognize the patients previously staged by 7th edition and recently staged by 8th edition. Careful counseling about melanoma-specific survival is needed for Asian patients.

Comparing cutaneous research funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the US skin disease burden.

BACKGROUND: Disease burden should be an important component for guiding research funding. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the relationship between dermatologic research funded from 2012 to 2013 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and US skin disease burden as measured by disability-adjusted life years in the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was independently performed by 2 researchers who matched projects from the 2012 to 2013 NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools with 15 skin conditions and their respective disability-adjusted life years from Global Burden of Disease 2010. RESULTS: The NIH funded 1108 projects spanning the 15 skin conditions. Melanoma received almost half of the total skin condition budget (49.5%). Melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and leprosy were funded above what would be suggested by their disease burden, whereas dermatitis, acne vulgaris, pruritus, urticaria, decubitus ulcer, fungal skin diseases, alopecia areata, cellulitis, and scabies appeared underfunded. Bacterial skin diseases, viral skin diseases, and psoriasis were well matched with disease burden. LIMITATIONS: Disease burden is one of many factors that may be used to guide priority-setting decisions. CONCLUSION: Skin disease burden measured by disability-adjusted life year metrics partially correlates with NIH funding prioritization. Comparing US disease burden with NIH funding suggests possible underfunded and overfunded skin diseases.

Unusual morphologic presentations of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: report of two cases misdiagnosed as melanoma and leprosy.

We present 2 cases of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) showing unusual histological features. One patient, a 73-year-old male, presented with a nonpruritic macular erythema of the skin on the anterior and posterior chest wall, the biopsy of which was originally diagnosed as malignant melanoma. The neoplastic cells were negative for S100 and HMB45 and strongly positive for CD45, CD4, CD56, and CD123. The final diagnosis was a BPDCN associated with abundant melanin pigment and numerous melanophages. The second patient was a 73-year-old male with a 5-month history of small, slowly enlarging, bruise-like plaques on his limbs and chest. Histologic examination of the skin biopsy revealed an atypical cellular/myxoid infiltrate with numerous macrophages, which was originally diagnosed as consistent with lepromatous leprosy. The atypical cells were immersed in an alcian blue-positive myxoid matrix at pH 2.5. The Fite-Faraco stain was negative. Positive immunoreactivity was demonstrated for CD4, CD56, and CD123. Based on the histopathology and immunohistochemistry findings, a diagnosis of BPDCN with prominent myxoid matrix was rendered.

Large congenital melanocytic nevus with metastatic melanoma with a probable primary in the lung.

Large congenital melanocytic nevi (> 20 cm in greatest diameter) are very rare and are seen in approximately 1 in 20,000 newborns. The major risk these patients face is the development of neurocutaneous melanosis or malignant melanoma. We report a rare case of large congenital melanocytic nevus with metastatic melanoma in a 40-year-old woman. In this case, though the primary was not established with certainty, on the basis of clinical course and radiological evaluation of various organs, we presume that the primary could be in the lung.