The role of accessibility policies and other determinants of health care provision in the initial prognosis of malignant melanoma: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic benefit of health care service provision and delivery policies for patients with malignant melanoma (MM) is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of health care provision determinants in the initial prognosis of MM. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted at 14 public hospitals and recruited 3550 patients with MM between 2000 and 2009. The study variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate models to identify their role in the variations observed. RESULTS: In a 10-year period, the number of patients with MM increased by 78.54%, with primary in situ MM (Tis) or MMs with a Breslow thickness <1 mm (T1) representing 51.72% of the total number of MMs in 2000, increasing to 62.23% by the end of the study period (P = .005). Among the variables that explained the variation in MM frequency the year of diagnosis after 2004 (univariate odds ratio [OR], 1.43 [P < .001]; multivariate OR, 1.36 [P = .005]) and diagnosis in centers with specific fast-track referral systems (univariate OR, 1.24 [P = .01]; multivariate OR, 1.59 [P = .025]) were shown to explain the increasing frequency of Tis-T1 MM. LIMITATIONS: The primary potential limitation of this study is its retrospective nature. CONCLUSION: Health care provision policies and interventions aimed at improving accessibility to specialized care appear to explain the increasing frequency of Tis-T1 MM.

Merkel cell carcinoma with sarcomatous differentiation: is it a poor prognostic factor?

BACKGROUND: Poor prognostic factors in Merkel cell carcinoma include male sex, advanced stage at diagnosis, large tumor size (>5 mm), diffuse growth pattern, heavy lymphocytic infiltrate, and high mitotic rate. To date only six cases of Merkel cell carcinoma with sarcomatous or pseudosarcomatous differentiation and poor prognosis have been documented. METHODS: We present a new case of Merkel cell carcinoma with sarcomatous differentiation. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical staining patterns reflected the morphologic differentiation of the epithelial and sarcomatous pattern. After two months of follow-up, there were no signs of local recurrence or metastases. CONCLUSION: In all cases of merkelomas with sarcomatous differentiation described to date, lymph node metastases have been found, except in the presented case. However, larger series of cases will be required to determine if sarcomatous differentiation represents another negative prognostic factor.

Livedo racemosa como signo de presentación de un síndrome antifosfolípido secundario a lupus eritematoso sistémico / Livedo racemosa as a presenting sign of antiphospholipid syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus

No disponible

Leucemia cutis como signo de presentación en una leucemia aguda mielomonocítica / Leukemia cutis: A presenting sign in acute myelomonocytic leukemia

No disponible

Paniculitis infecciosa por Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Infective panniculitis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

No disponible

Two cases of dermatomyofibroma (plaque-like dermal fibromatosis).

BACKGROUND: Dermatomyofibroma is a rare but distinct benign cutaneous mesenchymal neoplasm of fibroblastic/myofibroblastic differentiation. It is more common in adolescents and young adults, with a female preponderance. In most cases, the lesions are asymptomatic and small, measuring from 10 to 20 mm. Early and active lesions tend to be actin positive. CASE REPORT: We present a) a new case of dermatomyofibroma in an 11-month-old male infant, the youngest case reported to date, and b) the second reported case of a giant annular dermatomyofibroma, measuring 10 cm × 6 cm, in a 52-year-old woman. In both cases, histological examination showed a spindle-cell proliferation embedded among the collagen fibers of the dermis, arranged predominantly parallel to the skin surface. In both cases the spindle cells stained positive for smooth muscle actin and the elastic fibers were increased and fragmented. CONCLUSION: Dermatologists and pediatricians should be aware of this benign entity in order to avoid unnecessary treatment.

Micosis fungoide hipopigmentada / Hypopigmented micosis fungoides

No disponible

No disponible

Lupus erythematosus-like lesions by voriconazole in an infant with chronic granulomatous disease.

We report the first case of lupus-like lesions in an infant with chronic granulomatous disease during the treatment with voriconazole for chronic invasive aspergillosis. The lesions disappeared with termination of the treatment.