Dense inflammation does not mask residual primary basal cell carcinoma during Mohs micrographic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Areas of dense inflammation are commonly removed during Mohs micrographic surgery for basal cell carcinoma because of the concern that they may mask areas of tumor. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether inflammation masks tumor during Mohs surgery for primary basal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive cases of primary basal cell carcinoma with areas of dense inflammation encountered during Mohs surgery were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Ber-EP4. RESULTS: In no cases did the dense inflammation mask residual tumor. CONCLUSION: Dense inflammation does not mask primary basal cell carcinoma during Mohs surgery and should be carefully evaluated before additional surgery is performed.

Acrochordons as a presenting sign of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is a genodermatosis with autosomal dominant inheritance. In identified kindreds the diagnosis is relatively easy, but for the patients without family history of this syndrome a high clinical suspicion is necessary for diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: Acrochordons are distinctly uncommon in childhood. Our purpose was to evaluate skin tags that develop at an early age. METHODS: This is a retrospective series evaluation of 7 children who presented with pedunculated papules (acrochordon-like growths). A full history was then correlated with biopsy results in each patient. RESULTS: Clinically, lesions consisted of flesh-colored and pigmented pedunculated papules. Histopathologic examination of these papules showed basal cell carcinomas in each biopsy specimen. CONCLUSION: We consider that "skin tag"-like basal cell carcinomas in childhood may represent a marker for NBCCS. Early diagnosis of this syndrome and early sun protection of the affected children could help decrease the number of lifetime tumors. Biopsy should be performed on acrochordons in children because they may be the presenting sign of NBCCS. Because these tags may precede other stigmata of the NBCCS, recognition may facilitate early diagnosis and allow early treatment and sun protection.

Indirect recognition of allopeptides promotes the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Graft loss from chronic rejection has become the major obstacle to the long-term success of whole organ transplantation. In cardiac allografts, chronic rejection is manifested as a diffuse and accelerated form of arteriosclerosis, termed cardiac allograft vasculopathy. It has been suggested that T-cell recognition of processed alloantigens (allopeptides) presented by recipient antigen-presenting cells through the indirect pathway of allorecognition plays a critical role in the development and progression of chronic rejection. However, definitive preclinical evidence to support this hypothesis is lacking. To examine the role of indirect allorecognition in a clinically relevant large animal model of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, we immunized MHC inbred miniature swine with synthetic polymorphic peptides spanning the alpha(1) domain of an allogeneic donor-derived swine leukocyte antigen class I gene. Pigs immunized with swine leukocyte antigen class I allopeptides showed in vitro proliferative responses and in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to the allogeneic peptides. Donor MHC class I disparate hearts transplanted into peptide-immunized cyclosporine-treated pigs not only rejected faster than unimmunized cyclosporine-treated controls (mean survival time = 5.5 +/-1.7 vs. 54.7 +/-3.8 days, P < 0.001), but they also developed obstructive fibroproliferative coronary artery lesions much earlier than unimmunized controls (<9 vs. >30 days). These results definitively link indirect allorecognition and cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

CTLA4Ig-induced linked regulation of allogeneic T cell responses.

The mechanisms by which CTLA4Ig exerts its powerful immunomodulatory effects are not clear. We show here that CTLA4Ig can induce linked regulation of allogeneic porcine T cell responses in vitro. Naive miniature swine SLA(dd) T cells were rendered hyporesponsive to specific allogeneic Ag after coculturing with MHC-mismatched SLA(cc) stimulators in the presence of CTLA4Ig. These Ag-specific hyporesponsive T cells were subsequently able to actively inhibit the allogeneic responses of naive syngeneic T cells in an MHC-linked fashion, as the responses of naive SLA(dd) responders against specific SLA(cc) and (SLA(ac))F(1) stimulators were inhibited, but allogeneic responses against a 1:1 mixture of SLA(aa) (I(a), II(a)) and SLA(cc) (I(c), II(c)) were maintained. This inhibition could be generated against either class I or class II Ags, was radiosensitive, and required cell-cell contact. Furthermore, the mechanism of inhibition was not dependent upon a deletional, apoptotic pathway, but it was reversed by anti-IL-10 mAb. These data suggest that CTLA4Ig-induced inhibition of naive allogeneic T cell responses can be mediated through the generation of regulatory T cells via an IL-10-dependent mechanism.

Basal cell carcinoma metastatic to the parotid: report of a new case and review of the literature.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common of the cutaneous malignancies, accounting for 65 to 75% of all skin cancers. The natural history of this disease is one of chronic local invasion. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma is a rare clinical entity, with a reported incidence of only 0.0028 to 0.5%. Approximately 85% of all metastatic basal cell carcinomas arise in the head and neck region. We present a case of basal cell carcinoma that spread to the parotid gland in a man who had multiple lesions on his scalp and face. We also review the literature on metastatic basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and we discuss its epidemiology, etiology, histopathology, and treatment.

Therapeutic advances in melanoma.

Therapy for melanoma continues to evolve, and with the expanding work in the basic pathophysiology, the continued development of biologic modifiers is expected. With new treatment regimens, the rate of remissions is improving for patients with metastatic disease. Much work has yet to be done, however, and there will be continued development in all areas.

The optimal application of surgical adhesive tape strips.

BACKGROUND: Surgical adhesive tape strips are often used in the early postoperative period after sutures are removed or are used in place of superficial sutures. There have not been any previous studies demonstrating their optimal application. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the optimal application pattern for adhesive strips. METHODS: Twelve subjects had adhesive strips applied to their forearms in four different patterns and the adherence over time was measured. RESULTS: The parallel, nonoverlapping pattern with complete coating of the skin surface with mastisol had the highest degree of adherence. CONCLUSION: Failure to coat the entire skin surface with adjunctive adhesive, overlapping of tape strips, and use of tacking strips are all detrimental to strip adherence and should be avoided in clinical practice.

Angiosarcoma: current review.

Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare malignant tumor of the skin and soft tissues. Due to this lesions's histopathologic similarity to other soft tissue and skin neoplasms, several names had been previously used to describe AS. In the following article, we present a comprehensive review of the literature and prior studies pertaining to AS. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a better understanding of the causative factors, clinical findings, and histological features of this uncommon but potentially lethal tumor. Furthermore, we discuss present therapeutic options and outcomes as well as summarize recent advances in AS tumor biology and cytogenetics.

The heterogenous nature of in vivo basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There have been nearly 70 different histologic subtypes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) described. Some of the subtypes have been shown to have clinical relevance. The degree to which one type may merge to another, within the same tumor mass, has been poorly studied. OBJECTIVE: To determine if BCCs maintain biopsy histology throughout the entire architecture of the tumor. METHOD: Tumors were evaluated with a prospective histologic analysis of all primary BCCs using the Mohs "removal in layers" technique. All BCCs that required more than a single Mohs stage to clear were included in analysis. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine tumors were examined. Fourteen of these were of mixed histologic subtype on biopsy and were not included in the analysis. Six biopsy specimens were inadequate to make a subtype diagnosis and were excluded from calculation. Of the remaining 129 tumors 59% maintained their biopsy diagnosis at first Mohs stage, and 49% at the second Mohs stage. Infiltrative tumors were the most likely to maintain their histologic subtype classification. Of the tumors that showed nodular BCC on biopsy, 13% were infiltrative or micronodular at first Mohs stage. CONCLUSION: While many BCCs demonstrate a single histological subtype, roughly 40% change in their microscopic appearance at the subclinical extension. This finding has the potential to alter therapy.

Intraoperative and postoperative bleeding problems in patients taking warfarin, aspirin, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Many patients who undergo cutaneous surgery take medications that can affect bleeding. The role of these medications in postoperative bleeding complications is unclear. Dermatologists have no clear guidelines regarding the need to discontinue these medications preoperatively. OBJECTIVE: We designed a prospective study to evaluate the incidence of postoperative bleeding complications in patients taking aspirin, warfarin, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. METHODS: Data were collected from patients undergoing Mohs surgery regarding preoperative medication history, operative bleeding, and postoperative bleeding. Frequency of postoperative bleeding complications was then evaluated. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative bleeding complications between patients on aspirin, warfarin, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, when compared with controls. CONCLUSION: It may not be necessary to discontinue aspirin, warfarin, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents in patients undergoing many common dermatologic surgical procedures, such as Mohs surgery.

Systemic sarcoidosis presenting in the black dye of a tattoo.

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic granulomatous disease with many cutaneous manifestations and a known predilection for scars and areas of previous trauma. We report the first case of systemic sarcoidosis presenting in only the black dye of a tattoo. The skin manifestations of sarcoidosis and the histologic differential diagnosis of granulomas are reviewed.

The immunohistochemical characteristics of the basosquamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The basosquamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a poorly defined and often misunderstood cutaneous malignancy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare, using immunohistochemical techniques, the BSCC, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: BSCC occurring at Pennsylvania State University over the past 10 years were identified. Choosing seven BCC, and nine SCC as controls, all specimens were stained for keratin, lack of apoptosis, glycoproteins, and altered gene products using the avidin/biotin and strep-avidin immunoperoxidase techniques. Each malignancy was then graded for the percentage of cells stained with each marker. RESULTS: Of the markers studied, all stained to varying degrees the malignant aspects of the specimens. There were similar patterns between tumors, with the BSCC showing a transition zone between typical BCC and SCC. This was most striking for Ber-EP4, where over two-thirds of the BCC stained, none of the SCC, and half of the BSCC showed reactivity. CONCLUSION: BSCC has staining patterns similar to both the BCC and SCC. The presence of a transition zone does not support the concept that all BSCC are collision tumors, but rather a differentiation of one tumor into another. We confirm earlier reports that Ber-EP4 could be used to distinguish between classic BCC and SCC. AE1/AE3, bcl-2, TGF-alpha, and p53 were not helpful in separating the tumors.