Identifying unmet needs and challenges in the definition of a plaque in mycosis fungoides: An EORTC-CLTG/ISCL survey.

BACKGROUND: Consensus about the definition and classification of 'plaque' in mycosis fungoides is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To delineate a comprehensive view on how the 'plaque' entity is defined and managed in clinical practice; to evaluate whether the current positioning of plaques in the TNMB classification is adequate. METHODS: A 12-item survey was circulated within a selected panel of 22 experts (pathologists, dermatologists, haematologists and oncologists), members of the EORTC and International Society for Cutaneous Lymphoma. The questionnaire discussed clinical and histopathological definitions of plaques and its relationship with staging and treatment. RESULTS: Total consensus and very high agreement rates were reached in 33.3% of questions, as all panellists regularly check for the presence of plaques, agree to evaluate the presence of plaques as a potential separate T class, and concur on the important distinction between plaque and patch for the management of early-stage MF. High agreement was reached in 41.7% of questions, since more than 50% of the responders use Olsen's definition of plaque, recommend the distinction between thin/thick plaques, and agree on performing a biopsy on the most infiltrated/indurated lesion. High divergence rates (25%) were reported regarding the possibility of a clinically based distinction between thin and thick plaques and the role of histopathology to plaque definition. CONCLUSIONS: The definition of 'plaque' is commonly perceived as a clinical entity and its integration with histopathological features is generally reserved to specific cases. To date, no consensus is achieved as for the exact definition of thin and thick plaques and current positioning of plaques within the TNMB system is considered clinically inadequate. Prospective studies evaluating the role of histopathological parameters and other biomarkers, as well as promising diagnostic tools, such as US/RM imaging and high-throughput blood sequencing, are much needed to fully integrate current clinical definitions with more objective parameters.

Birth cohort-specific trends of sun-related behaviors among individuals from an international consortium of melanoma-prone families.

BACKGROUND: Individuals from melanoma-prone families have similar or reduced sun-protective behaviors compared to the general population. Studies on trends in sun-related behaviors have been temporally and geographically limited. METHODS: Individuals from an international consortium of melanoma-prone families (GenoMEL) were retrospectively asked about sunscreen use, sun exposure (time spent outside), sunburns, and sunbed use at several timepoints over their lifetime. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the association between these outcomes and birth cohort defined by decade spans, after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: A total of 2407 participants from 547 families across 17 centers were analyzed. Sunscreen use increased across subsequent birth cohorts, and although the likelihood of sunburns increased until the 1950s birth cohort, it decreased thereafter. Average sun exposure did not change across the birth cohorts, and the likelihood of sunbed use increased in more recent birth cohorts. We generally did not find any differences in sun-related behavior when comparing melanoma cases to non-cases. Melanoma cases had increased sunscreen use, decreased sun exposure, and decreased odds of sunburn and sunbed use after melanoma diagnosis compared to before diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although sunscreen use has increased and the likelihood of sunburns has decreased in more recent birth cohorts, individuals in melanoma-prone families have not reduced their overall sun exposure and had an increased likelihood of sunbed use in more recent birth cohorts. These observations demonstrate partial improvements in melanoma prevention and suggest that additional intervention strategies may be needed to achieve optimal sun-protective behavior in melanoma-prone families.

Cutaneous Metastasis From Parotid Tumors: A Report of 2 Cases and Literature Review.

ABSTRACT: Cutaneous metastases from parotid tumors are uncommon and imply a poor prognosis. In this article, we report 2 new cutaneous metastasis cases from 2 different parotid malignancies and 42 additional cases from a literature review. Clinical manifestations, localization, and outcomes of skin metastasis from parotid tumors are described. Although infrequent, parotid neoplasms may develop skin metastasis many years after the initial diagnosis, mostly in the head and neck region. Therefore, long-term follow-up and periodic skin examination of these patients is mandatory. Dermatologists and surgeons must have a high index of suspicion when evaluating any skin lesion arising on these patients because cutaneous metastasis from parotid neoplasms generally implies a poor prognosis.

[Scrofuloderma, cutaneous and pulmonary tuberculosis associated with COVID-19. Report of one case]. / Escrofuloderma: tuberculosis cutánea y pulmonar asociada a coinfección COVID-19. Reporte de caso.

Cutaneous tuberculosis represents 1-1.5% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, including a variety of clinical conditions. Scrofuloderma and lupus vulgaris are the most common forms. We report a 49-year-old woman who sought medical attention through tele-dermatology concerning a cervical nodule associated with suppuration and cutaneous involvement. The diagnoses of scrofuloderma and pulmonary tuberculosis were confirmed, and during her evolution she presented a coinfection with SARS-CoV-2. The possible associations between tuberculosis and COVID-19 were reviewed.

Taxane-induced scleroderma. Report of two cases.

Taxanes are a class of chemotherapeutic agents with common associated dermatologic adverse events, such as skin hyperpigmentation, hand-foot skin syndrome, paronychia and onycholysis. Taxane-induced scleroderma is rare. Few cases with skin findings resembling systemic sclerosis, have been reported after the administration of these agents. We report two cases with stage IV breast cancer, aged 66 and 71 years, who developed sclerodermic skin lesions in their extremities after starting treatment with placlitaxel and nabplaclitaxel respectively.

Focal Rosai-Dorfman disease coexisting with lymphoma in the same anatomic site: a localized histiocytic proliferation associated with MAPK/ERK pathway activation.

Rosai-Dorfman disease is a rare histiocytic disorder shown to have gene mutations that activate the MAPK/ERK pathway in at least one-third of cases. Most patients with Rosai-Dorfman disease present with bulky lymphadenopathy or extranodal disease, but rarely Rosai-Dorfman disease is detected concomitantly with lymphoma in the same biopsy specimen. The underlying molecular mechanisms of focal Rosai-Dorfman disease occurring in the setting of lymphoma have not been investigated. We report 12 cases of Rosai-Dorfman disease and lymphoma involving the same anatomic site. There were five men and seven women (age, 23 to 77 years) who underwent lymph node (n = 11) or skin (n = 1) biopsy; the lymphomas included nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 6), classical Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 4), small lymphocytic lymphoma (n = 1) and extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (n = 1). The foci of Rosai-Dorfman disease in all cases had S100 protein-positive histiocytes undergoing emperipolesis. No patients had Rosai-Dorfman disease at other anatomic sites at initial diagnosis and at last follow-up (median, 40 months). We performed immunohistochemical analysis to assess activity of the MAPK/ERK pathway in the Rosai-Dorfman disease foci. We also micro-dissected disease foci and analyzed 146 genes using next-generation sequencing in four cases with adequate DNA; the panel included genes previously reported to be mutated in Rosai-Dorfman disease. All cases were negative for gene mutations. Nevertheless, all cases were positive for cyclin D1 and most cases showed p-ERK expression indicating that the MAPK/ERK pathway is active in the histiocytes of focal Rosai-Dorfman disease. We conclude that focal Rosai-Dorfman disease coexisting with lymphoma is a clinically benign and localized histiocytic proliferation. These data also indicate that the MAPK/ERK pathway is active in focal Rosai-Dorfman disease although we did not identify activating mutations. These findings suggest that the pathogenesis of focal Rosai-Dorfman disease is different from that of usual cases of Rosai-Dorfman disease.

[Suspected vascular ehlers danlos syndrome. Case report]. / Sospecha diagnóstica de síndrome de Ehlers Danlos tipo vascular: reporte de un caso y revisión de literatura.

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome comprises a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders of the connective tissue, due to defects in collagen or its modifying enzymes. We report a 21 years old male presenting with translucent skin revealing the subcutaneous venous pattern. He had a thin face, large-appearing eyes, thin lips, thin nose, joint hypermotility and history of hip dysplasia. A vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome was suspected. However, the genetic study to confirm the diagnosis was not done.

[Porphyria cutanea tarda. Case report]. / Porfiria cutánea tarda. Caso clínico.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of porphyria: it is characterized by blistering lesions, erosions and crusts on the back of the hands, associated with photosensitivity and facial hypertrichosis. It is produced by acquired or hereditary deficiency of the enzyme UROD, fifth enzyme in the chain of production of the Heme group. This causes accumulation of porphyrins in the liver, which are subsequently mobilized to the skin, where lesions are generated by photosensitivity. This deficiency can be exacerbated by multiple causes. We report a 51-year-old female presenting with the characteristic dermal lesions described above, which disappeared when she discontinued her hormone replacement therapy with estradiol and dydrogesterone. Urinary and blood uroporphyrin and hexacarboxyl porphyrins were elevated and plasma ferritin was 479 ng/ml. Hormone replacement therapy was discontinued and phlebotomies were attempted but not tolerated by the patient. The dermic lesions have not relapsed.

[Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma, nasal-type with primary cutaneous involvement. A case report]. / Linfoma NK/T extra nodal, tipo nasal, con compromiso cutáneo primario. Reporte de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NK/T), nasal type, is an infrequent neoplasm with a high lethality, characterized by bone destruction around the sinus, nasal septum or obstruction of the airway. Also, may be primary skin involvement, airway and other organs. Objecti ve: Submit a rare condition in the pediatric population, in order to facilitate the diagnostic suspicion and quick recognition from specialists. CASE REPORT: a 14-year-old girl, who presented arm and leg lesions, painless, suggestive of subcutaneous panniculitis, which evolve to ulcerated purple maculae. Skin biopsy showed lesion compatible with NK/T lymphoma, nasal type. She was referred to pedia tric oncology, where she received chemotherapy treatment. Despite medical efforts, the patient died eight months after due to a serious pulmonary infection secondary to immunosuppression. Conclu sions: Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a rare neoplasm that behaves aggressively, with high mortality without treatment, therefore, its recognition has a high importance for early diagnosis and prompt referral to Hematology-Oncology.

Characterization of individuals at high risk of developing melanoma in Latin America: bases for genetic counseling in melanoma.

PURPOSE: CDKN2A is the main high-risk melanoma-susceptibility gene, but it has been poorly assessed in Latin America. We sought to analyze CDKN2A and MC1R in patients from Latin America with familial and sporadic multiple primary melanoma (SMP) and compare the data with those for patients from Spain to establish bases for melanoma genetic counseling in Latin America. METHODS: CDKN2A and MC1R were sequenced in 186 Latin American patients from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay, and in 904 Spanish patients. Clinical and phenotypic data were obtained. RESULTS: Overall, 24 and 14% of melanoma-prone families in Latin America and Spain, respectively, had mutations in CDKN2A. Latin American families had CDKN2A mutations more frequently (P = 0.014) than Spanish ones. Of patients with SMP, 10% of those from Latin America and 8.5% of those from Spain had mutations in CDKN2A (P = 0.623). The most recurrent CDKN2A mutations were c.-34G>T and p.G101W. Latin American patients had fairer hair (P = 0.016) and skin (P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of MC1R variants (P = 0.003) compared with Spanish patients. CONCLUSION: The inclusion criteria for genetic counseling of melanoma in Latin America may be the same criteria used in Spain, as suggested in areas with low to medium incidence, SMP with at least two melanomas, or families with at least two cases among first- or second-degree relatives.Genet Med 18 7, 727-736.

[Understanding current therapies in metastatic melanoma]. / Entendiendo las terapias actuales en melanoma metastásico.

Cutaneous melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor developing from melanocytes, its incidence is increasing, and prognosis in advanced stages is daunting. New therapies have been approved during the recent years with unprecedented results, including inhibitors of MAPK/ERK pathway and immune checkpoint blockade (anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) as ipilimumab, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1) as pembrolizumab and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 ligand (PD-L1), among many others). The aim of this paper is to review currently available metastatic melanoma therapies focusing mainly on new therapies that have demonstrated effectiveness, after several decades of little progress in the treatment of this disease.

[Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma: Report of one case]. / Linfoma anaplástico de células grandes CD30 positivo cutáneo primario: reporte de un caso.

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL) is within the spectrum of cutaneous CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders. It presents as localized or multifocal tumors or plaques and carries an excellent long-term prognosis even in cases with regional and/or ipsilateral lymph node involvement or in cases of recurrent disease. We report a 34 year-old female with a thigh lesion. Skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PCALCL. The patient was strictly monitored but no treatment was instituted and the tumor regressed spontaneously. After 24 months of follow-up the patient remains free of disease without new lesions.

[Sézary syndrome treated with extracorporeal photopheresis: Report of one case]. / Fotoféresis en el tratamiento de Síndrome de Sézary: Caso clínico.

Sézary syndrome (SS) is an unusually aggressive T- cell lymphoma characterized by the triad of erythroderma, the presence of more than 1,000 Sézary cells in peripheral blood and lymphadenopathies. It is accompanied by generalized pruritus and poor quality of life. The management of SS depends on its stage, patient comorbidities, and treatment availability. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is the first line of treatment for patients with T-cell lymphomas in stage IVA1, IVA2 or SS. This treatment comprises three phases: leukapheresis, photoactivation and subsequent reinfusion of lymphocytes. As it is an immunomodulatory therapy it does not produce generalized immunosuppression. We report a 76 year-old male with SS stage IIIb initially treated with 12 sessions of ultraviolet phototherapy without response. After 10 well-tolerated sessions of ECP, itching and skin lesions eventually disappeared.

[Skin necrosis: report of eleven cases]. / Necrosis cutánea: un desafío para el médico.

Skin necrosis must be considered as a syndrome, because it is a clinical manifestation of different diseases. An early diagnosis is very important to choose the appropriate treatment. Therefore, its causes should be suspected and confirmed quickly. We report eleven patients with skin necrosis seen at our Department, caused by different etiologies: Warfarin-induced skin necrosis, loxoscelism, diabetic microangiopathy, ecthyma gangrenosum, disseminated intravascular coagulation, necrotizing vasculitis, paraneoplastic extensive necrotizing vasculitis, livedoid vasculopathy, necrotizing fasciitis, necrosis secondary to the use of vasoactive drugs and necrosis secondary to the use of cocaine. We also report the results of our literature review on the subject.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis as early manifestation of Epstein-Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly.

Extensive necrotizing vasculitis (ENV) is a rare paraneoplastic phenomenon, and the majority of cases reported are associated with hematolymphoid neoplasms. Histologically, most cases of ENV represent leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). Here we report the clinicopahological features of a 68-year-old man with ENV associated to a Epstein Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (EBV+DLBCL) of the elderly, a newly recognized lymphoproliferative disorder, most likely representing a paraneoplastic manifestation. The patient was treated with standard chemotherapy regimen for malignant lymphoma. Due to the extensive involvement of the extremities by ENV, surgical debridement was not feasible and a novel therapy based on CHITOSAN apposits was initiated with overall good response and subsequent re-epithelization of the skin lesions. The patient died of sepsis secondary to a Pseudomona pneumonia 17 months after diagnosis.

Mycosis Fungoides, Lymphomatoid Papulosis and Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Same Patient: Apropos of a Possible Monoclonal Origin.

A 59-year-old man with Hodgkin's lymphoma was referred by a hematologist for consultation for cutaneous issues. Physical examination revealed generalized scaling and erythematous scaly patches located in the groin, abdomen, and arms. The biopsy was compatible with mycosis fungoides (MF). At his next medical visit, painful nodules with erythematous halo and scabby surface were noted, and a subsequent biopsy was compatible with lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP). Mycosis fungoides, the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is usually defined in its classic form as a CD4+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma; LyP corresponds to a CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder; and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) constitutes a lymphoid neoplasia characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells and its variants. Although these entities have been defined independently, evidence suggests the possibility of a common monoclonal origin. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MF, LyP, and HL in a single patient.