Long-term recurrence of nonmelanoma skin cancer after topical methylaminolevulinate photodynamic therapy in a dermato-oncology department

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Most available studies on the efficacy of topical photodynamic therapy focus on short-to medium-term results. Long-term data are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of photodynamic therapy with topical methylaminolevulinate to treat Bowen's disease and basal cell carcinoma in the clinical practice setting of a dermato-oncology department. METHODS: The study included patients diagnosed with Bowen's disease or basal cell carcinoma, and who received photodynamic therapy from 2004 to 2008. Treatment protocol and clinical follow-up were standardized. The primary endpoint was clinically observed recurrence in a previous photodynamic therapy-treated area. Descriptive and survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 31 Bowen's disease lesions and 44 superficial basal cell carcinoma were treated, with a median follow-up of 43.5 months. Recurrence was observed in 14 Bowen's disease lesions (53.8%) and in 11 superficial basal cell carcinoma (33.3%). Significantly higher estimates for recurrence rates were found in patients with Bowen's disease (p=0.0036) or those aged under 58 years (p=0.039). The risk of recurrence was higher in patients with Bowen's disease than in those with superficial basal cell carcinoma and younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence should be considered when choosing to treat non-melanoma skin cancer with photodynamic therapy. Younger age and Bowen's disease were independent predictors for long-term recurrence, suggesting the need to establish an extended period of follow-up for this subset of patients.

Porokeratosis ptychotropica of the scrotum: dermoscopic evaluation of an atypical presentation

Porokeratosis ptychotropica is a rare variant of porokeratosis that is classically located on the gluteal and perianal regions, seldom extending to the genitalia. The authors report an atypical presentation of porokeratosis ptychotropica and discuss the use of dermoscopy in evaluating this dermatosis. Dermoscopic findings, although not specific to this variant of porokeratosis, are helpful in the differential diagnosis of other genital disorders. Histopathology, through the visualization of multiple cornoid lamellae, prevails as the gold standard for the definite diagnosis of porokeratosis ptychotropica.

Conscious sedation with inhaled 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen premix in photodynamic therapy sessions for vulvar lichen sclerosus treatment

Photodynamic therapy has been described as an effective therapeutic option in selected cases of anogenital lichen sclerosus that are refractory to first-line treatments. However, procedure-related pain is a limiting factor in patient adherence to treatment. The authors report the case of a 75-year-old woman with highly symptomatic vulvar lichen sclerosus, successfully treated with photodynamic therapy. An inhaled 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen premix was administered during sessions, producing a pain-relieving, anxiolytic, and sedative effect without loss of consciousness. This ready-to-use gas mixture may be a well-tolerated and accepted alternative to classical anesthetics in Photodynamic therapy, facilitating patients' adherence to illumination of pain-prone areas.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm / Neoplasia blastica de celulas dendriticas plasmocitoides

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is a rare and aggressive hematodermic neoplasia with frequent cutaneous involvement and leukemic dissemination. We report the case of a 76-year-old man with a 2 month history of violaceous nodules and a tumor with stony consistency, located on the head, and mandibular, cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathies. Multiple thoracic and abdominal adenopathies were identified on computerized tomography. Flow cytometry analysis of the skin, lymph node and bone marrow biopsies demonstrated the presence of plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplastic precursor cells (CD4+, CD45+, CD56+ and CD123+ phenotype). After initial clinical and laboratorial complete remission with chemotherapy, the patient died due to relapse of the disease associated with the appearance of a cervical mass with medullary compromise.

A neoplasia blástica de células dendríticas plasmocitóides é uma neoplasia hematodérmica rara, agressiva, com frequente envolvimento cutâneo e disseminação leucêmica. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 76 anos com quadro clínico com 2 meses de evolução caracterizado por nódulos e tumor de tonalidade violácea, de consistência pétrea, localizados na cabeça, e linfadenopatias mandibular, cervicais e supraclaviculares. Identificaram-se múltiplas adenopatias torácicas e abdominais em tomografia computorizada. A análise por citometria de fluxo de biópsias cutânea, ganglionar e óssea demonstrou a presença de precursores neoplásicos das células dendríticas plasmocitóides (fenótipo CD4+, CD45+, CD56+ e CD123+). Após remissão clínica e laboratorial completa inicial com quimioterapia, veio a falecer por recaída da doença associada ao aparecimento de massa cervical com compromisso medular.

Cutaneous leiomyomatosis in a mother and daughter / Leiomiomatose cutanea em mae e filha

A 34-year-old woman with no known medical history was evaluated for multiple painful brown nodules and papules on the anterior aspect of the trunk. She mentioned a history of similar cutaneous findings on her mother. Biopsies of three lesions revealed piloleiomyomata. Renal and adrenal ultrasound revealed an isolated simple cortical cyst, and pelvic and endovaginal ultrasound revealed two uterine myomata. The clinical diagnosis of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer was corroborated by the identification of a heterozygous variant on exon 5 of the fumarate hydratase gene (c.578C>T p.T193I). Identification of the tumor piloleiomyoma should alert the dermatologist to this rare genodermatosis, which is associated with an increased risk of renal cell tumors, demanding multidisciplinary follow-up, and personal and family counseling.

Uma mulher de 34 anos sem antecedentes patológicos conhecidos foi avaliada por apresentar múltiplos nódulos e pápulas castanhos, dolorosos, na face anterior do tronco. Referia história de achados cutâneos semelhantes na sua mãe. As biópsias de três lesões revelaram piloleiomiomas. As ecografias renal e suprarenal identificaram apenas cisto renal cortical simples, e as ecografias endovaginal e pélvica, dois miomas uterinos. O diagnóstico clínico de leiomiomatose herediária e câncer de células renais foi corroborado pela identificação de variante heterozigota no exon 5 do gene da Fumarato hidratase (c.578C>T p.T193I). O piloleimomioma é um tumor cuja identificação deve alertar o dermatologista para esta rara genodermatose, associada a um risco aumentado de tumores de células renais, exigindo seguimento multidisciplinar e aconselhamento pessoal e familiar.

Case for diagnosis / Caso para diagnostico

An 83 year-old man was observed for an 8 year-long pruritic, erythematous plaque of the left axilla. He had been continuously medicated with topical antifungals and steroids with occasional symptomatic relief, but with disease progression. After a clinical and histological diagnosis of Extramammary Paget's Disease, a total excision with wide margins was performed. He remains disease-free 12 months after surgery. We report this rare presentation of Extramammary Paget's Disease on a male patient.

Um homem de 83 anos foi observado por placa eritematosa pruriginosa da axila esquerda com 8 anos de evolução. Estivera continuamente medicado com antifúngicos e corticóides tópicos com alívio sintomático ocasional, contudo com progressão da doença. Após diagnóstico clínico e histológico de Doença de Paget Extramamária, foi feita excisão total com margens largas. Mantém-se sem evidência de doença aos 12 meses após cirurgia. Salientamos esta apresentação rara de Doença de Paget Extramamária num paciente do sexo masculino.