Squamous cell carcinoma originating from cutaneous cysts: The Henry Ford Experience and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising within cutaneous epidermal cysts is a very rare phenomenon. We provide a series of new cases and an overview of the literature. We sought to define the prevalence of and characterize SCC arising within epidermal and pilar cysts. PATIENT AND METHODS: We searched Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) registry from 2005 to 2009 to identify cases of SCC arising from epidermal cysts. RESULTS: We identified 1904 cases of epidermal cysts at our institution between 2005 and 2014. Of these, three cases of SCC arose from an epidermal cyst and one case of SCC developed from a pilar cyst. All lesions occurred below the waist with the exception of the pilar cyst on the scalp. CONCLUSIONS: Given the extremely low incidence, propensity of malignant lesions to become symptomatic and efficacy of treatment, we do not recommend routine excision of all epidermal cysts. Instead, we recommend excision and pathology for all symptomatic epidermal cysts, or those that rapidly grow, or do not respond to medical therapy.

The impact of income on clinical outcomes in FIGO stages I to II endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus.

OBJECTIVE(S): To determine the influence of income on clinical outcomes in patients with surgical stages I to II endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 660 women initially treated from 1985 to 2009. On the basis of income data obtained from the 2000 US census, patients were separated into various income groups (halves, tertiles, and quartiles) based on median household income, with most focus on the half income groups. RESULTS: Income groups were similar regarding treatments received and characteristics, with the exception of more African American (AA), unmarried patients, and a predilection for higher grade in the lower half income group (LHIG). Compared with the upper half income group (UHIG), the LHIG had lower disease-specific survival (DSS) (5 y: 93.9% vs. 97.0% and 10 y: 90.1% vs. 95.9%; P=0.023) and a trend toward lower overall survival (OS) (5 y: 83.4% vs. 86.5% and 10 y: 62.6% vs. 68.5%; P=0.067). In patients with higher-risk features, differences in outcomes between LHIG and UHIG were more pronounced; 10-year OS of 43.4% versus 60.2% (P=0.004) and 10-year DSS of 75.0% versus 93.0% (P=0.007), respectively. Regarding race, AA patients in the LHIG had lower OS than AA in the UHIG. On univariate analysis, income group and race were significant predictors for DSS, but on multivariate analysis, they were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar treatments and characteristics, a small decrease in DSS and a trend toward reduced OS was observed in LHIG patients, but income group was not statistically significant on multivariate analysis of outcome. These differences were more significant in patients with high-risk features.

Validation of claims data algorithms to identify nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Health maintenance organization (HMO) administrative databases have been used as sampling frames for ascertaining nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). However, because of the lack of tumor registry information on these cancers, these ascertainment methods have not been previously validated. NMSC cases arising from patients served by a staff model medical group and diagnosed between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2008 were identified from claims data using three ascertainment strategies. These claims data cases were then compared with NMSC identified using natural language processing (NLP) of electronic pathology reports (EPRs), and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Comparison of claims data-ascertained cases with the NLP demonstrated sensitivities ranging from 48 to 65% and specificities from 85 to 98%, with ICD-9-CM ascertainment demonstrating the highest case sensitivity, although the lowest specificity. HMO health plan claims data had a higher specificity than all-payer claims data. A comparison of EPR and clinic log registry cases showed a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 99%. Validation of administrative data to ascertain NMSC demonstrates respectable sensitivity and specificity, although NLP ascertainment was superior. There is a substantial difference in cases identified by NLP compared with claims data, suggesting that formal surveillance efforts should be considered.

Vitamin D and nonmelanoma skin cancer in a health maintenance organization cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) with the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), defined as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Health maintenance organization. PATIENTS: The study included 3223 white health maintenance organization patients who sought osteoporosis- or low-bone-density-related advice from 1997 to 2001. INTERVENTIONS: Vitamin D levels were ascertained at the time of the initial appointment, and a sufficient vitamin D level was defined as a baseline serum 25-OHD level greater than or equal to 30 ng/mL (to convert to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 2.496) and as a deficient vitamin D level less than 15 ng/mL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The NMSC cases diagnosed between 1997 and 2009 were ascertained using claims data, considering first occurrence of specified disease outcome and complete person-years of follow-up since baseline. Charts were abstracted for histologic subtype and anatomical location. RESULTS: More patients were vitamin D insufficient (n = 2257) than sufficient (n = 966). There were 240 patients with NMSC: 49 had an SCC, 163 had a BCC, and 28 had both. Vitamin D levels greater than 15 ng/mL ("not deficient level") were positively associated with NMSC (unadjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-2.7), and this association was sustained after additional risk factors were adjusted for (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9). The 25-OHD levels were similarly positively associated, though statistically insignificant, with NMSC occurring on less UV-exposed anatomical locations (adjusted OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.7-7.0), whether for SCC (adjusted OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 0.4-24.0) or for BCC, although the risk estimate for BCC was lower (adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.5-5.8). CONCLUSIONS: An increased baseline serum 25-OHD level was significantly associated with an increased NMSC risk. This association was positive, though nonsignificant on less UV-exposed body sites, and UV exposure remains a likely confounder. The complex and confounded relationship of vitamin D, UV, and NMSC makes classic epidemiological investigation difficult in the absence of carefully measured history of cumulative UV exposure.