Surgical treatment of verrucous carcinoma: a review.

BACKGROUND: Verrucous carcinoma is a rare mucocutaneous malignancy characterized by slow, relentless growth and a low metastasis rate. OBJECTIVE: Herein we summarize surgical success rates and review newer approaches to the treatment of verrucous carcinomas. METHODS AND MATERIALS: PubMed electronic searches were performed by B.F. and C.V. using combinations of the following terms: "verrucous carcinoma," "Ackerman tumor," "Buschke Lowenstein," "epithelioma cuniculatum," "carcinoma cuniculatum," "papillomatosis cutis," "treatment," "therapeutics," "management," "mohs surgery," and "excision." A systematic review was conducted on 49 articles in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Surgical management remains first-line therapy. Wide local excision is most commonly utilized, with highly variable margins (0.5-3.0 cm) and recurrence rates (4.6-75.0%). Mohs Micrographic Surgery has also been used, especially for recurrent tumors, with an overall recurrence rate of 12.9%. CONCLUSION: Surgery is the treatment of choice, either by Mohs Micrographic Surgery or wide local excision. However, surgical recurrence rates are high, and tissue-sparing therapies are desirable given the sensitive locations involved. Ultimately, randomized control trials are needed to develop evidence-based guidelines for the management of VCs.

Nivolumab-Induced Granuloma Annulare.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab have transformed oncologic therapeutic modalities. By disrupting tumor-induced immunosuppression, ICIs have facilitated effective treatment of numerous malignancies, including metastatic melanoma; however, due to the ensuing disturbance of the immune system, various immune-mediated adverse reactions have been reported with ICI therapy. We present a case of nivolumab-induced granuloma annulare in a 54-year-old woman. Recognition of the association between ICI therapy and cutaneous adverse reactions is crucial to ensure accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment of such reactions in patients taking ICIs.

Defining the role of mirtazapine in the treatment of refractory pruritus.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Mirtazapine has traditionally been used for the treatment of major depressive disorder, with an added benefit in patients who have comorbid insomnia or anxiety. Recent studies describe its usefulness in treating refractory pruritus of various causes as well. Our goal is to better define the use of mirtazapine in the treatment of refractory pruritus. METHOD: Through a thorough literature review of PubMed, we identified all reports of the use of mirtazapine for pruritus. RESULTS: Upon examination of 8 supporting articles, we found mirtazapine has quality evidence for the treatment of intra-thecal morphine-induced pruritus. Mirtazapine may also be effective in treating pruritus related to various other conditions, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous malignancies (primary or metastatic), hematologic malignancies (lymphomas and leukemias), liver failure, renal failure, cholestasis, as well as pruritus of unknown origin. CONCLUSIONS: Mirtazapine plays a role in treatment for intra-thecel morphine-induced pruritis yet high-quality trials are needed to confirm its efficacy in other dermatologic conditions.

Dupilumab for the Treatment of Actinic Prurigo.

A 42-year-old Latino man with a medical history of vitiligo presented to our outpatient clinic with a 25-year history of a recurrent, itchy eruption on his face and hands. Physical examination revealed pink, scaly, erythematous, lichenified papules and plaques with overlying crusts, photodistributed on the nose, chin, cheeks, hands, and ears (Figures 1a and 2a). The lips were edematous with hemorrhagic crusting, and conjunctival injection and partial corneal opacities were noted (Figures 1b-1c). Histologic evaluation demonstrated psoriasiform hyperplasia with hyper-granulosis and a superficial perivascular infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and eosinophils. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II typing was positive for HLA-DRB1*0407, thus confirming the diagnosis of actinic prurigo (AP).

Dermatology Interest Groups in Medical Schools.

Involvement in a Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) allows students to learn about dermatology, partake in service projects, get involved in research, and ask questions about the application process for residency programs. In this article, we review the activities and member involvement of DIGs from 11 medical schools. To our knowledge, this is the first descriptive analysis of DIGs across the United States. This comparison of DIGs is not only potentially helpful for medical schools interested in establishing a DIG, but it also offers insight into how previously established DIGs could improve and have a greater impact both in individual medical schools and in the community at-large.

Pustular psoriasis eruption with dabrafenib, a BRAF inhibitor.

Targeted BRAF inhibition with vemurafenib and dabrafenib has dramatically improved the survival rate in metastatic melanoma. These agents are now being tested for their efficacy against other tumors with BRAF mutations, including lung adenocarcinoma. While cutaneous adverse events are prevalent with BRAF inhibition, our patient, to our knowledge, is the first to develop a psoriatic eruption with BRAF inhibitors. We postulate that the elevation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the paradoxical activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway due to BRAF inhibition may be responsible for the eruption. More studies are needed to further elucidate the immunopathogenic mechanisms behind this adverse event. The response to MEK inhibitors and/or increased TNF-α inhibition may help support or debunk our hypothesis.

Warfarin-induced skin necrosis following heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Anticoagulants, such as heparin and warfarin, are commonly used in the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic events. The risk of developing warfarin-induced skin necrosis (WISN) with warfarin is reported to be <1%. However, the risk of WISN may be increased with the initiation of warfarin in the setting of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis syndrome (HITT). WISN can lead to catastrophic tissue necrosis requiring amputations and mass debridement. This report describes a case of WISN following HITT and discusses the appropriate medical management of patients with HITT to avoid secondary WISN.