Ultrasound Assessment of Regional Lymph Nodes in Melanoma Staging.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma can early metastasize to regional lymph nodes. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node draining directly from the site of primary melanoma, and the pathohistological status of the SLN is the most significant prognostic factor for overall survival prevalence and prognosis in patients with melanoma. Ultrasound is a very useful for the imaging of regional lymph node metastases, combined with Doppler and cytopuncture. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ultrasound assessment of regional lymph nodes in melanoma staging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included all patients with primary melanoma detected in the period between 2003 and 2012, in whom diagnostic processing has not proven distant metastases or physical examination did not find enlarged lymph nodes. In total, 202 surgically treated patients were included in the study, of which 101 patients underwent ultrasound examination of regional lymph nodes using a linear probe of at least 12 MHz, while ultrasound of regional lymph nodes was not performed for 101 patients. RESULTS: The results of this study emphasize the importance of ultrasound in the diagnostics and treatment of patients with melanoma. Based on the observation of the occasional positive ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in regional lymph nodes, our results indicate that a proportion of patients can avoid sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). In case of a positive ultrasound findings (complemented with FNAC of suspicious nodes), direct dissection of regional lymph nodes is recommended. However, negative ultrasound findings do not exclude the presence of micrometastases due to poor sensitivity of this method and is not a contraindication for SLNB. CONCLUSION: Therefore, there is a need for further studies on metastatic melanoma, especially those in the sentinel lymph nodes and in its early stage.

An Increasing Scabies Incidence in Croatia: A Call for Coordinated Action Among Dermatologists, Physicians and Epidemiologists.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to examine the scabies incidence in the Croatian population and to analyse potential related factors. METHODS: This mixed ecological study is based on a retrospective medical record review. National data from communicable disease reports was sourced and analysed for an 11-year period (2007-2017), with more focus on the period 2014-2017. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate trends. Differences between the groups were studied using Chi-square test and Kendall's tau (τ) correlation coefficient. Levels of significance were set at p<0.05 or p<0.01. RESULTS: From 2007 to 2017, scabies infestation in Croatia increased by 6-fold, particularly affecting children and young adults (19 years or younger). In the period 2014-2017, border counties which are part of migration flows were the counties with the highest average scabies incidences. A linear trend of increase in the number of tourists, immigrants and scabies infestations was noted on the national level for the analysed period, although a significant association was not observed. Regarding outbreaks of scabies within institutions, more than 80% of outbreaks occurred in institutions for adults. In the capital, Zagreb, the crude incidence rate increased 3-fold between 2014 and 2017. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of scabies, large disparities between counties, and prolonged outbreaks within families due to under-recognition and misdiagnoses points to a need for increased awareness among health practitioners. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first recent epidemiologic analysis on this topic, not only in Croatia but within the wider geographic region as well.

Vemurafenib and cobimetinib-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis in a patient with metastatic melanoma.

Combination therapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma has been associated with more durable response rate compared to monotherapy. However, previous studies have shown that combined target therapy commonly causes a wide spectrum of adverse events. These adverse reactions are usually manageable, however, it is always necessary to compare drug efficacy with its potential adverse effects. Toxic epidermal necrolysis represents severe mucocutaneous reaction, usually triggered by medications and characterized by extensive necrosis and detachment of the epidermis. Here we present a first case of toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by combined target therapy (vemurafenib plus cobimetinib). The case was observed in a young patient with BRAF mutant melanoma who was started on first-line metastatic immunotherapy with pembrolisumab.

Treatment Options for Pediatric Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a multifactorial inflammatory papulosquamous disease affecting 0.5% to 2% of the pediatric population. Pediatric psoriasis, presenting similar to adult psoriasis, significantly reduces patient quality of life, often requiring an individualized treatment approach for each patient. Combination and rotational therapy are helpful in reducing toxicity and maximizing efficacy. Patients with mild and limited disease severity respond well to topical treatment with steroids or vitamin D analogues, unlike moderate and severe psoriasis where sufficient remission is rarely achieved. Therefore phototherapy, systemic immunomodulators, or biologic agents are the next line of treatment to be considered. There is limited data available on the use and long-term safety of biologics in the pediatric population. Biologic agents must be administered by experienced dermatologists, only in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are intolerant or refractory to other systemic conventional disease-modifying treatment or phototherapy, or if those treatments are contraindicated.