Dermoscopy of very small basal cell carcinoma (≤3 mm)

Abstract Background Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) dermoscopy is key to lower the biopsy threshold of suspicious lesions. There is a scarcity of published data on the dermoscopy of very small BCC (≤3 mm) and its differences from larger BCCs. Objective To describe and compare dermoscopic features of BCCs measuring ≤3 mm, with those from 3 to 10 mm. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study, included biopsy-proven BCCs that had dermoscopic photographic images, between January 2017 and December 2022 in a Skin Cancer Center in Medellín, Colombia. Demographic, clinic-pathological and dermoscopic features were compared between very small BCCs (vsBCCs) and a reference group. Results A total of 326 BCCs in 196 patients were included, of whom 60% were male. The most common Fitzpatrick phototype was III. vsBCCs accounted for 25% of the lesions (81/326). Face and neck were the most frequent locations (53%), especially in very small tumors. The nodular type was more common in very small tumors than in larger lesions, the superficial type was less frequent, and aggressive types were equally prevalent in both groups. On dermoscopy, very small tumors were statistically more likely to present pigmented structures than reference lesions, especially blue-gray dots (67% vs. 54%), vessels were less frequent, particularly short-fine telangiectasias (SFT) (52% vs. 66%), as were other structures such as shiny white structures (SWS), ulceration, micro-erosions, and scales. Study limitations Latin-American sample, lacks information on dark phototypes Conclusions Pigmented structures, especially blue-gray dots, were most common in vsBCCs when compared to larger lesions; SFT, SWS and other findings were less prevalent.

Hipovitaminosis D: una visión desde la clínica y la biología molecular / Vitamin D deficiency: a view from clinical features and molecular biology

RESUMEN La vitamina D es una hormona que participa en gran cantidad de procesos fisiológicos y bioquímicos dentro del organismo humano, tales como la absorción de calcio y fosfato a nivel intestinal, regulación de la calcemia y mineralización ósea; además, tiene efectos sobre el ciclo celular, proliferación, diferenciación, señalización, apoptosis y producción de varias moléculas en diferentes células y tejidos, lo que explica la relación de sus bajos niveles con el desarrollo de múltiples patologías. En los últimos años, se ha reportado una elevada prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D a nivel mundial, que oscila entre el 50 y 92% según la población estudiada, producto de la deficiente exposición a la luz solar, escasa ingesta dietética, poco uso de suplementos vitamínicos, entre otros factores asociados. A su vez, se ha encontrado que la deficiencia de vitamina D es causada por algunos polimorfismos genéticos que afectan su metabolismo y conllevan al desarrollo de varias enfermedades. Debido a la importancia clínica de la vitamina D, se realizó esta revisión de la literatura por medio de la búsqueda de artículos originales, revisiones sistemáticas y narrativas en las bases de datos Pubmed y ScienceDirect y en el buscador Google Scholar. Se seleccionaron en total 71 artículos, a partir de los cuales se busca describir en el presente texto algunos de los aspectos relacionados con la fisiología, epidemiología, clínica y etiología de la hipovitaminosis D. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(1):45-56.

ABSTRACT Vitamin D is a hormone involved in many physiological and biochemical processes within the human, such as the absorption of calcium and phosphate in the intestine, regulation of blood calcium and bone mineralization; it also has effects on the cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, signaling, apoptosis and production of various molecules in different cells and tissues, which explains the relationship between low levels of vitamin D and the development of many diseases. In recent years, there has been reported a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide, ranging between 50 and 92% depending on the population studied, the result of poor exposure to sunlight, poor dietary intake, little use of vitamin supplements, among other associated factors. Hence, it has been found that vitamin D deficiency is caused by some genetic polymorphisms that affect their metabolism and lead to the development of various diseases. Because of the clinical importance of vitamin D, this review of the literature was conducted by the search for original articles, systematic reviews and narrative articles in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar reviews. They were selected in total 71 articles, from which we seek to describe here some of the aspects of physiology, epidemiology, clinical and etiology of vitamin D deficiency. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(1):45-56.