Exploring Small-Diameter Melanomas: A Retrospective Study on Clinical and Dermoscopic Features.

BACKGROUND: Early melanoma detection allows for timely intervention and treatment, significantly improving the chances of favorable outcomes for patients. Small-diameter melanoma (SDM) typically represents an initial growth phase of cutaneous melanoma. One of the challenges in detecting melanoma in their early stage lies in the fact that dermoscopy criteria have been primarily designed for fully developed lesions. Early-stage melanomas may be difficult to detect and possibly even be overlooked or misinterpreted during examinations. METHODS: The primary aim of this study was to identify valuable clinical and dermoscopic clues to enhance the detection of SDMs. To achieve this objective, we conducted a comprehensive retrospective analysis, including forty SDMs with a diameter of 5 mm or less. These cases were diagnosed over an 8-year period and were collected from five referral centers across Brazil. Seven experienced dermatologists independently assessed the dermoscopic features of each lesion. Additionally, this study includes demographic and histological information. RESULTS: The study encompassed a total of 28 patients, of which 16 were females, accounting for 58% of the participants, with an average age of 43.6 years. Among the small-diameter melanomas (SDMs) under investigation, the majority, constituting 27 cases (69.2%), were identified as "de novo" lesions, i.e., not associated with a nevus. Additionally, eight SDMs (20%) exhibited invasive characteristics, with Breslow index measurements ranging between 0.2 to 0.4 mm, suggesting an early stage of malignancy. During dermoscopic examinations, the most prevalent features observed were irregular dots and globules, present in 95% and 87.5% of cases, respectively. Moreover, brown structureless areas were identified in 70% of lesions, followed by atypical network (67.5%), pseudopods (55%), dotted vessels (47.5%), flat structureless blue-gray areas (42.5%), and irregular blotches (40%). Notably, all SDM were diagnosed in patients under surveillance through total body skin photography (TBSP) and Digital Dermoscopy (DD). CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy of melanoma, even in its early stages. Particularly for high-risk patients with numerous nevi, the identification of a new lesion or subtle changes on dermoscopy during follow-up may serve as the sole clue for an early diagnosis. This emphasizes the critical role of dermoscopy in SDM detection and reinforces the importance of surveillance in high-risk patients for timely and effective management.

Epidemiological aspects of melanoma at a university hospital dermatology center over a period of 20 years.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of melanoma has been steadily rising in past decades. Although it accounts for only 3% of all skin cancers, it is responsible for 75% of deaths. OBJECTIVE: to describe the epidemiological aspects of melanoma in a university hospital setting over a period of 20 years. METHODS: A total of 166 patients were analyzed between January 1990 and January 2010 for clinical and histological variables and correlations between them. A 5% level of significance was adopted. RESULTS: The majority of patients were Caucasians (74%), females (61%), with a mean age at diagnosis of 55. The predominant histological type was lentigo maligna/lentigo maligna melanoma (35.7%) and the head and neck was the most affected site (30.7%). Among non-Caucasians, the acral region was the most affected. Most tumors were in situ (41.1%). Growth of the lesion was the most frequent complaint (58.1%) and bleeding was most frequently associated with melanomas with a depth > 4mm. There were seven deaths (4.2%), with a high risk among men, non-Caucasians and those under 20 years of age, with a Breslow's depth > 2mm, with lentiginous acral melanoma and with a history of growth and bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our sample differs from most of the studies in the predominant location (head and neck), histological type (lentigo maligna/ lentigo maligna melanoma) and a major risk of death under the age of 20, which could be with a reflex of regional variation. Broader studies are necessary for validation of the results.

Epidemiological aspects of melanoma at a university hospital dermatology center over a period of 20 years / Aspectos epidemiológicos do melanoma em serviço de dermatologia de hospital universitário em um período de 20 anos

BACKGROUND: The incidence of melanoma has been steadily rising in past decades. Although it accounts for only 3% of all skin cancers, it is responsible for 75% of deaths. OBJECTIVE: to describe the epidemiological aspects of melanoma in a university hospital setting over a period of 20 years. METHODS: A total of 166 patients were analyzed between January 1990 and January 2010 for clinical and histological variables and correlations between them. A 5% level of significance was adopted. RESULTS: The majority of patients were Caucasians (74%), females (61%), with a mean age at diagnosis of 55. The predominant histological type was lentigo maligna/lentigo maligna melanoma (35.7%) and the head and neck was the most affected site (30.7%). Among non-Caucasians, the acral region was the most affected. Most tumors were in situ (41.1%). Growth of the lesion was the most frequent complaint (58.1%) and bleeding was most frequently associated with melanomas with a depth > 4mm. There were seven deaths (4.2%), with a high risk among men, non-Caucasians and those under 20 years of age, with a Breslow's depth > 2mm, with lentiginous acral melanoma and with a history of growth and bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our sample differs from most of the studies in the predominant location (head and neck), histological type (lentigo maligna/ lentigo maligna melanoma) and a major risk of death under the age of 20, which could be with a reflex of regional variation. Broader studies are necessary for validation of the results. .

FUNDAMENTOS: A incidência do melanoma cutâneo aumentou nas últimas décadas. Embora represente 3% dos tumores cutâneos, é responsável por 75% dos óbitos. O diagnóstico precoce constitui a principal chance de cura. OBJETIVO: Descrever os aspectos epidemiológicos do melanoma em hospital universitário em 20 anos. MÉTODOS: Avaliaram-se 166 pacientes no período de janeiro de 1990 a janeiro de 2010, quanto s variáveis epidemiológicas, histológicas e óbitos relacionados ao melanoma e suas correlações. Adotou-se nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era brancos (74%), mulheres (61%), com média de idade ao diagnóstico de 55 anos. O tipo histológico predominante foi o lentigo maligno/lentigo maligno melanoma (35,7%) e a localização mais frequente foi a cabeça e o pescoço (30,7%). Entre os não-brancos, a região acral foi a mais acometida. Quanto espessura tumoral, a maioria dos melanomas era in situ (41,1%). O crescimento da lesão foi a queixa mais frequente (58%) e o sangramento foi mais associado a melanomas espessos. Ocorreram sete óbitos (4,2%), com maior risco de morte em menores de 20 anos e naqueles com história de sangramento, após análise multivariada. CONCLUSÃO: Esta casuística difere da maioria dos estudos em relação localização (cabeça e pescoço), ao tipo histológico (lentigo maligno/lentigo maligno melanoma) e ao maior risco de óbito em menores de 20 anos, o que pode ser devido variação regional. Estudos mais amplos são necessários para validação destes resultados. .

Contribuição do mapeamento corporal total e dermatoscopia digital para o diagnóstico precoce do melanoma / The contribution of total body mapping and digital dermoscopy for the early diagnosis of melanoma

O prognóstico do melanoma cutâneo depende principalmente de sua espessura, sendo a detecção precoce do melanoma extremamente importante para a maior sobrevida dos pacientes. Com a utilização do exame dermatoscópico, pode-se alcançar acurácia de aproximadamente 90%. Melanomas iniciais podem não apresentar características dermatoscópicas específicas, sendo apenas diagnósticados pela mudança ao longo do tempo, observada pelo mapeamento corporal total e dermatoscopia digital seriados. Os grupos que apresentam maior sensibilidade para detecção do melanoma com esse exame são os de portadores de síndrome do nevo atípico e melanoma múltiplo familial.

The prognosis of cutaneous melanomas depends mainly on the lesions' thickness; early detection is of paramount importance for patient longer survival rates. An accuracy of approximately 90% can be achieved using dermoscopic assessment. Since early melanomas might not present specific dermoscopic features, they can only be diagnosed by observing alterations over time through total body mapping and serial digital dermoscopy. Patients with atypical nevus syndrome and multiple familial melanoma presented a higher sensitivity for the detection of melanoma using that technique.

A importância da dermatoscopia digital no diagnóstico precoce do melanoma e no auxílio à histopatologia em paciente de alto risco / Digital dermoscopy in early diagnosis of melanoma and histopathology for high-risk patients

A detecção precoce do melanoma é crucial para sobrevida maior. A dermatoscopia aumenta a acurácia do exame clínico, possibilitando o diagnóstico em fases iniciais, mas apresenta limitações no diagnóstico dos melanomas incipientes. O mapeamento corporal total e dermatoscopia digital auxiliam o diagnóstico de lesões incaracterísticas e permitem a detecção de lesões novas suspeitas. Os pacientes de alto risco para o desenvolvimento de melanoma são aqueles que mais se beneficiam dessa forma de seguimento. Relatamos caso de paciente de alto risco em que o diagnóstico de melanoma só foi possível através do auxílio da dermatoscopia na análise direcionada da histopatologia.

The early detection of melanoma is crucial for improving survival rates. Dermoscopy improves the accuracy of clinical examination, enabling a diagnosis in the early stages. However it has limitations in the diagnosis of incipient melanomas. Full body mapping and digital dermoscopy help diagnose nonspecific lesions and allow the detection of new suspicious lesions. Patients at high risk of developing melanomas benefit the most from this approach. The authors report the case of a high-risk patient whose melanoma diagnosis was only possible with the help of dermoscopy-guided histopathological analysis.

Milia with calcium deposits on the palms and soles in a patient with multiple syringoma.

An 8-year-old girl was referred for evaluation of multiple lesions on the neck, axillae, and genitalia. A great number of milia-like lesions were also noticed on the palms and discrete keratotic plugs on the soles. Histopathology from lesions on the neck, axilla, and vulva were consistent with syringoma. On the palms and soles, eccrine ducts cystically dilated filled with proteinaceous material and calcifications were found. Although the nature of palmar and plantar lesions in our patient is uncertain, we think that they should be related to the other syringomas on her skin.

Caso para diagnóstico / Case for diagnosis

Fibromatose hialina juvenil e hialinose sistêmica infantil são desordens autossômicas recessivas, raras da infância. À histologia, há depósito de material hialino na derme e subcutâneo. As características clínicas principais são: lesões pápulo-nodulares, hipertrofia gengival, contratura articular, lesões ósseas osteolíticas e retardo no crescimento. Mutações no mesmo gene foram identificadas nas duas condições, sugerindo que sejam espectros da mesma doença.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis are rare autossomal recessive disorders with onset in infancy or early childhood. Histological examination shows deposit of hyaline material in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Clinical features include papulonodular skin lesions, gingival hypertrophy, flexion contractures of joints, osteolytic bone lesions and stunted growth. Mutations in the same gene were detected in both conditions, suggesting that they may be variants of the same disorder.

[Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis. Case for diagnosis]. / Caso para diagnóstico.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis are rare autosomal recessive disorders with onset in infancy or early childhood. Histological examination shows deposit of hyaline material in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Clinical features include papulonodular skin lesions, gingival hypertrophy, flexion contractures of joints, osteolytic bone lesions and stunted growth. Mutations in the same gene were detected in both conditions, suggesting that they may be variants of the same disorder.

Caso para diagnóstico / Case for diagnosis

O termo cútis tricolor descreve a presença de máculas cutâneas hiper e ipocrômicas, adjacentes e congênitas, e é manifestação de mosaicismo cutâneo explicada pelo mecanismo de twin spotting alélico. Esse fenômeno consiste em forma particular de recombinação somática, com perda da heterozigose, que ocorre durante a mitose no embrião em formação. Apresenta-se caso de paciente masculino, 16 anos, com máculas hiper e hipocrômicas adjacentes no tronco, presentes desde o nascimento, assintomáticas. Não se detectaram outras anomalias.

The term cutis tricolor describes the presence of congenital hyper and hypopigmented skin macules and is a manifestation of skin mosaicism, explained by the allelic twin spotting mechanism. This phenomenon consists of a peculiar type of somatic recombination, with loss of heterozygosity, which occurs during mitosis in the forming embryo. We present the case of a male patient, aged 16, with congenital asymptomatic adjacent hyper and hypopigmented macules on the trunk. No other anomalies could be detected.