Assessing spatial distribution of bioindicator elements in various cutaneous tumors using correlative imaging with laser-ablation-based analytical methods.

Correlative imaging of cutaneous tumors provides additional information to the standard histopathologic examination. However, the joint progress in the establishment of analytical techniques, such as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in clinical practice is still limited. Their combination provides complementary information as it is also shown in our study in terms of major biotic (Ca, Mg, and P) and trace (Cu and Zn) elements. To elucidate changes in the elemental composition in tumors, we have compiled a set of malignant tumors (Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Malignant Melanoma, and Epithelioid Angiosarcoma), one benign tumor (Pigmented Nevus) and one healthy-skin sample. The data processing was based on a methodological pipeline involving binary image registration and affine transformation. Thus, our paper brings a feasibility study of a practical methodological concept that enables us to compare LIBS and LA-ICP-MS results despite the mutual spatial distortion of original elemental images. Moreover, we also show that LIBS could be a sufficient pre-screening method even for a larger number of samples according to the speed and reproducibility of the analyses. Whereas LA-ICP-MS could serve as a ground truth and reference technique for preselected samples.

Imaging the elemental distribution within human malignant melanomas using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma, often an inconspicuous but highly aggressive tumor, is most commonly done by histological examination, while additional diagnostic methods on the level of elements and molecules are constantly being developed. Several studies confirmed differences in the chemical composition of healthy and tumor tissue. Our study presents the potential of the LIBS (Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy) technique as a diagnostic tool in malignant melanoma (MM) based on the quantitative changes in elemental composition in cancerous tissue. Our patient group included 17 samples of various types of malignant melanoma and one sample of healthy skin tissue as a control. To achieve a clear perception of results, we have selected two biogenic elements (calcium and magnesium), which showed a dissimilar distribution in cancerous tissue from its healthy surroundings. Moreover, we observed indications of different concentrations of these elements in different subtypes of malignant melanoma, a hypothesis that requires confirmation in a more extensive sample set. The information provided by the LIBS Imaging method could potentially be helpful not only in the diagnostics of tumor tissue but also be beneficial in broadening the knowledge about the tumor itself.

Presence of circulating tumor cells in a patient with multiple invasive basal cell carcinoma - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent skin cancer worldwide, however, its metastatic spreading is extremely rare. CASE: We present a case of advanced BCC with rapid growth of new tumor lesions in a patient who was later diagnosed with Gorlin syndrome. Due to the advanced disease stage, the patient was examined for circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are used as a prognostic marker in some metastatic malignancies. To date, no studies have been found that could assess the BCC tumor and the presence of CTCs in peripheral blood. CTCs were obtained after each surgical excision and during systemic oncological therapy from the peripheral venous blood by size-based isolation method (Metacell®) and cultured in vitro for 7 days. CTCs were enriched by size-based separation and examined using vital fluorescence microscopy. Cytomorphological comparison of CTCs with cells from the tumor lesions was provided. In the course of the treatment, the CTCs count in the blood decreased after surgical removal of the tumorous mass, but finally, the sustained and persisting decrease in CTCs was achieved with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION: The detection of CTCs points a systematic disease behavior in this case.

Pyoderma gangrenosum: a rare complication of reduction mammaplasty - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare non-infectious inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that affects the skin and mucous membranes. The occurrence of pyoderma gangrenosum after a reduction mammoplasty is a very rare complication, which at first glance may seem like an infectious complication; in reality, however, it is an inflammatory disease. CASE: This case report describes a rare postoperative complication - pyoderma gangrenosum and its appropriate treatment in our patient who underwent reduction mammoplasty. CONCLUSION: Early detection of this complication is essential for the patients recovery because the primary surgical treatment can lead to worsening of the condition and is therefore contraindicated in such a case. Pyoderma gangrenosum must be treated conservatively with corticosteroids.

Methodology for the Implementation of Internal Standard to Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Analysis of Soft Tissues.

The improving performance of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) triggered its utilization in the challenging topic of soft tissue analysis. Alterations of elemental content within soft tissues are commonly assessed and provide further insights in biological research. However, the laser ablation of soft tissues is a complex issue and demands a priori optimization, which is not straightforward in respect to a typical LIBS experiment. Here, we focus on implementing an internal standard into the LIBS elemental analysis of soft tissue samples. We achieve this by extending routine methodology for optimization of soft tissues analysis with a standard spiking method. This step enables a robust optimization procedure of LIBS experimental settings. Considering the implementation of LIBS analysis to the histological routine, we avoid further alterations of the tissue structure. Therefore, we propose a unique methodology of sample preparation, analysis, and subsequent data treatment, which enables the comparison of signal response from heterogenous matrix for different LIBS parameters. Additionally, a brief step-by-step process of optimization to achieve the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is described. The quality of laser-tissue interaction is investigated on the basis of the zinc signal response, while selected experimental parameters (e.g., defocus, gate delay, laser energy, and ambient atmosphere) are systematically modified.