Recurrence rate of basal cell carcinoma with positive histopathological margins and related risk factors

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The best way to approach surgically removed basal cell carcinoma with positive histopathological margins is a controversial issue. Some authors believe that the more appropriate treatment is an immediate reoperation while others prefer a periodic follow up. The rates of recurrence are variable in literature, between 10% and 67%. OBJECTIVE: To define the recurrence rate of basal cell carcinoma with positive margins after surgery. Secondarily, identify morphological aspects that can suggest a more frequent tumoral recurrence. METHODS: This was a retrospective and observational study made by analysis of medical records of 487 patients between January 2003 and December 2009 in Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (HC-UFPR). From 402 basal cell carcinomas surgically treated, 41 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were evaluated for five years or more. Recurrence rate of these tumors was analyzed in all patients and clinical characteristics such as sex, age, tumor size, tumor site, ulceration, and histological type were evaluated in order to find if they were related to more common tumoral recurrence. RESULTS: The rate of positive margins after surgery was 12.18%. There were five cases of tumoral recurrence in the observation group and three cases in the re-excision group. Tumor size, site, histological type, ulceration and type of positive margin did not differ statistically between groups. It was not possible to consider if these factors were important in recurrence rates. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Ideally, a prospective study with a larger sample would be more accurate. CONCLUSION: The treatment of choice in basal cell carcinoma with positive margins must be individualized to reduce recurrence rates.

Incidence, clinical manifestations and clipping of nail psoriasis in the dermatology center of the Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba

Abstract: Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often progresses with nail alterations. It is suspected that there is a correlation between nail psoriasis and enthesitis of the distal interphalangeal joint, seeming to serve as a predictor. Objectives: To analyze the profile of patients with nail psoriasis and correlate the presence of nail alterations with psoriatic arthritis, quality of life, extent of psoriasis and the histopathology of the nail. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study with 40 patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis and without systemic treatment. The patient profile was researched, including quality of life and evaluated for the presence of psoriatic arthritis. The severity of the skin psoriasis and the presence of nail lesions were evaluated. Nail fragments were collected and analyzed through clipping. It obtained 100% of positivity for psoriasis in the histopathology exam of the nail plate. Results: Of the 40 patients, 65% were diagnosed with nail psoriasis. Suggestive findings of psoriatic arthritis in hands were present in 33%, being more frequent in those with nail alteration (p = 0.01). In 92.3% of patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in the hands there was some nail injury. The most frequent injuries were pitting and onycholysis. Conclusions: Patients with nail psoriasis are usually men, with worse quality of life and higher chance of psoriatic arthritis. The correlation between the nail involvement of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in hands confirms the association between these two forms. The clinical diagnosis of nail psoriasis did not correlate with the histological diagnosis.