Melanoma in Singapore: A 20-year review of disease and treatment outcomes

INTRODUCTION@#Melanomas in Asians have different clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis from melanomas in Caucasians. This study reviewed the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed at a tertiary referral dermatology centre in Singapore, which has a multiracial population. The study also determined whether Asians had comparable relapse-free and overall survival periods to Caucasians in Singapore.@*METHOD@#This is a retrospective review of cutaneous melanoma cases in our centre between 1996 and 2015.@*RESULTS@#Sixty-two cases of melanoma were diagnosed in 61 patients: 72.6% occurred in Chinese, 19.4% in Caucasians and 3.2% in Indians, with an over-representation of Caucasians. Superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma and nodular melanoma comprised 37.1%, 35.5% and 22.6% of the cases, respectively. The median time interval to diagnosis was longer in Asians than Caucasians; median Breslow's thickness in Asians were significantly thicker than in Caucasians (2.6mm versus 0.9mm, @*CONCLUSION@#More physician and patient education on skin cancer awareness is needed in our Asian-predominant population for better outcomes.

Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Patients with Metabolic Comorbidities

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with an increased prevalence of individual metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and with the metabolic syndrome, as a constellation of these risk factors. This places affected patients at an increased risk of early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Moreover, many of the therapeutic options, including the newer biologics, used in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa have both beneficial and adverse metabolic effects. Therefore, it is critical for physicians to consider the complex interactions between the disease process and the treatment options in the holistic management of these patients with an intrinsically higher risk of metabolic consequences. Other chronic systemic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis have been studied more extensively with regard to their associations and share an underlying link with the metabolic syndrome; we can draw upon the existing knowledge in our understanding and management of hidradenitis suppurativa.