Sentinel lymph node biopsy or nodal observation in melanoma: study of an Italian series.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease-free time (DFT) and overall survival (OS) of patients with intermediate or high-risk cutaneous melanoma who were treated with conventional surgery alone, and to compare them with that of a second group of patients who were treated with surgery and SLN biopsy. METHODS: A retrospective, single-centre study was performed at the Department of Dermatology of the "M. Bufalini" Hospital, Cesena, Italy based on data collected between January 1990 and December 2007. A total of 757 consecutive patients with stage I-II melanoma were identified: the former group (control group), treated with conventional surgery, was composed of 224 patients; the latter, treated with surgery and SLN biopsy (SLN biopsy group), was formed of 529 patients. RESULTS: The 5-year disease free time (DFT) rate, estimated with Kaplan-Meyer, was 73.9% (95% CI: 67.5-79.2) in the control group, and 82.2% (95% CI: 78.6-85.3) in the SLN biopsy group. Although the DFT rate was significantly higher in the SLN group than in the control group in univariate analyses (P=0.004), this gain was lost in multivariate analysis (P=0.2). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 88.4% (95% CI: 83.2-92.1) for the control group, and 87.9% (95% CI: 84.6-90.4) for the SLN biopsy group. Statistical comparison of specific OS was not statistically significant (P=0.93). CONCLUSION: On the basis of our follow-up data, we found that patients who underwent SLN biopsy technique experienced a reduction in the proportion of lymph nodal relapse, but DFT and OS were statistically equivalent between the two groups.

Efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone aceponate ointment 0.1% compared to tacrolimus 0.03% in children and adolescents with an acute flare of severe atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Topical glucocorticosteroids are the gold standard in treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Recently, topical calcineurin inhibitors have been developed for treatment of this condition. This study compared efficacy and safety of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate (MPA) ointment with 0.03% tacrolimus ointment for 3 weeks, in children and adolescents with severe to very severe flare of AD. METHODS: The primary end point was treatment success, defined as a score of 'clear' or 'almost clear' in the static Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score. Secondary end points were the percentage change in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and patients' assessment of itch and sleep, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index, patient's assessment of global response, affected Body Surface Area and medication costs. RESULTS: 265 patients were randomized to either MPA (n = 129) or tacrolimus (n = 136) treatment, 257 patients completed the study. Methylprednisolone aceponate 0.1% ointment once daily provided rapid and relevant clinical benefit. Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment twice daily was equally effective with regard to success rate. Methylprednisolone aceponate was superior to tacrolimus for EASI, itch and sleep. Both treatments were well tolerated. Drug-related adverse events were only observed in the tacrolimus group. Medication costs were significantly lower for MPA. CONCLUSIONS: While both treatment groups showed similar efficacy results regarding treatment success (IGA), significant advantages were observed for EASI, itch and sleep with MPA 0.1%. These advantages and the significantly lower treatment costs highlight the benefits of MPA treatment, underlining its first-line role in treatment of children and adolescents with severe AD.

High intracytoplasmatic levels of Il-4 and Il-5 in a patient with Gleichs syndrome: case report.

Gleichs syndrome is characterized by recurrent localized angioedema, hypereosinophilia, elevated levels of IgM, rapid weight gain, itchy urticaria and fever. Little is known about the pathogenesis of this disease. Increased serum levels for IL5, IL6 and C5a have been reported before and during clinical exacerbations. In order to better understand the role of the T cells in Gleichs syndrome we analyzed the intracellular cytokine expression in CD3+ cells of a patient affected by the disease. As hypereosinophilia was documented, we asked whether IL-4 and IL-5 levels were increased, and the intracytoplasmatic expression of these Th2-cytokines was determined. The percentage of T lymphocytes (CD3-gated cells) of both CD8- and CD8+ phenotype expressing different cytokines showed an unusually high percentage of Th2-related cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) expressing T lymphocytes. The two new variants (myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative) seem to account for hypereosinophilia in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). In the lymphroliferative variant, the presence of a clonal CD3-CD4+ Th2 like lymphocyte secreting IL-4 and IL-5 in peripheral blood, may explain the hypereosinophilia and the hyper-IgE. In our study we show that the patient had a lymphoproliferative variant and her T cell had a Th2 type phenotype. Moreover, we suggest that Th2 lymphocytes may play a role in the pathogenesis of Gleichs syndrome. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possibility that a polyclonal aspecific activation of Th2 type cells can lead to hypereosinophilia, IgE production and the other manifestations typical of Gleichs syndrome.

The tape stripping toluidine blue (TSTB) method in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma: an investigator-blind study.

The cytological investigation of the skin surface with the simple, non-invasive tape-stripping toluidine blue (TSTB) method has been proposed to improve the clinical diagnosis of many dermatological disorders. We carried out an investigator-blind study to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the procedure for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. One hundred and fifty pigmented lesions were tested. Positive results were obtained in 22 out of 32 malignant melanomas (sensitivity 68.7%), with three false negatives (two cases of lentigo maligna in premalignant phase and one early melanoma in situ) and seven non-significant findings. Negative results were found in 88 out of 118 non-melanoma conditions (specificity 74.5%), with three false positives (two Spitz's naevi and one dysplastic naevus) and 27 non-significant findings. Thus the TSTB method may be a helpful diagnostic tool, in addition to the ABCDE rule, for the early detection of malignant melanoma.