Preoperative Plasma miRNA Levels Predict Prognosis in Early-stage Malignant Melanoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Non-invasive circulating tumor biomarkers in liquid biopsy, such as microRNAs (miRNA), provide for better personalization of treatment strategies. The aim of our study was to assess the prognosis of patients with melanoma undergoing tumor resection with curative intent based on analysis of selected circulating miRNAs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 22 patients with stage I to III melanoma were enrolled into this prospective study. Plasma samples were obtained pre-surgery and early post-surgery from peripheral blood draws. A panel of 23 candidate miRNAs was designed and expression of miRNAs were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction with exogenous reference control cel-miR-39-3p. RESULTS: Higher preoperative expression levels of miR-99a (p=0.008), miR-320 (p=0.009), miR-1908 (p=0.001), miR-494 (p=0.018) and miR-4487 (p=0.048) were associated with a shorter disease-free interval. Similarly, higher preoperative plasma levels of miR-99a (p=0.017), miR-221 (p=0.026), miR-320 (p=0.016), miR-494 (p=0.009), miR-1260 (p=0.026) and miR-1908 (p=0.024) were associated with worse overall survival. No significant differences between pre- and postoperative plasma miRNA levels were observed. CONCLUSION: Liquid biopsy is a minimally-invasive approach which can lead to a better understanding of cancer behavior and offers the possibility of precise patient prognosis, allowing selection of the most appropriate treatment. Our study showed that preoperative plasma levels of miR-99a, miR-221, miR-320, miR-494, miR-1908 and miR-4487 were associated with disease-free interval and overall survival of patients with early-stage melanoma. This approach may help in decision-making about the appropriateness of modern adjuvant treatment administration in patients with resectable melanoma.

Rapid growth and slow involution of Reed nevus in a long-term dermoscopic follow-up.

We describe the rapid growth of a Reed nevus followed by its slow involution and present dermoscopic follow-up images. The child was monitored for 10 years (from age 3 to 13 years) by digital dermoscopy. The Reed nevus completely lost its typical dermoscopic arrangement (starburst pattern) with involution and distinct changes in dermoscopic pattern.

Clinical-Dermoscopic-Histopathological Correlations in Collision Skin Tumours.

Objectives: Collision tumours are rare situations characterised by the coincidence of two different skin neoplasms in the same lesion. Methods: We have analyzed 41 collision skin tumours from one department in the clinical-dermoscopic-histopathologic correlations. Results: We present 41 collisions tumours. The mean age of our patients was 67.9 years, the mean diameter of the lesion was 11.6 mm. The most frequent locations were trunk (27 lesions) and head/neck (11 lesions). The collisions were classified as benign/benign (13 cases), benign/malignant (25 cases) and malignant/malignant (3 cases). The most frequent participants were seborrheic keratosis (24 cases), malignant melanoma (17 cases), melanocytic nevus (14 cases), basal cell carcinoma (12 cases) and heamangioma (10 cases). Thirty cases were of "dominant/minor" type and 11 cases of "half to half" type. Malignant tumours were a part of 28 collisions; these lesions were larger, patients were older and the malignant part was dominant in most cases. More than half of the collisions were unexpected by the initial clinical examination. Six collisions were missed by the initial histopathological examination. Conclusions: Collision tumours can be missed by clinical or even histopathological examination. Dermoscopy is very helpful in the recognizing of difficult cases and cooperating with the histopathologist.

The use of 2940-nm ER:YAG laser for the treatment of lentigo maligna.

OBJECTIVES: Lentigo maligna is a common in situ malignancy in elderly patients, with a low risk of progression to an invasive tumor. Surgical treatment may be complicated or refused. Non-surgical treatment options (such as lasers) may therefore be needed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report on 17 patients treated with a 2940-nm Er:YAG (erbium-doped yttrium aluminum) laser for histopathologically confirmed lentigo maligna. The lesions were ablated with a 5 mm margin of adjacent skin under local anesthesia with a 3.5 mm overlapping spot, energy density of 6.5 J/cm2 and a repetition rate of 5 Hz. If clinically visible pigmentation was seen in the ablated area during the following three months, the lesion was re-treated. All patients were followed up for residual or recurrent tumors. RESULTS: We achieved clinical clearance in all 17 patients. There were three recurrences during the follow-up period (9, 30 and 36 months after laser therapy). All patients were satisfied with the treatment course and cosmetic outcome. The mean follow-up duration was 28 months. CONCLUSIONS: Laser ablation is an interesting alternative method for treatment of lentigo maligna. It can be used for selected cases where surgery is contraindicated, complicated or declined by the patient.

Pigmented squamous intraepithelial neoplasia of the anogenital area: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study of 64 specimens from 45 patients exploring the mechanisms of pigmentation.

Pigmented lesions in the anogenital area encompass a wide variety of disorders including squamous intraepithelial neoplasia. The authors sought to explore the mechanism(s) underlying clinically pigmented squamous intraepithelial neoplasia in the anogenital area. A light-microscopic and immunohistochemical study of 64 lesional specimens from 45 patients (32 women, 13 men; age range, 23-73 years) with pigmented lesions in the anogenital area was performed. Histopathologically, 63 (98%) specimens showed melanin incontinence into the superficial dermis beneath the dysplastic epithelium. A focal or total loss of basilar hyperpigmentation was detected in 30 (48%) and 13 (20%) of lesions, respectively. In 17 (27%) cases, absence of basal layer hyperpigmentation was accompanied by a subepithelial lichenoid infiltrate. Melanin within the upper part of dysplastic areas were seen in 63 cases (98%), whereas dendritic melanocytes colonization, mild in all but 1 specimen case, was observed in 53 (83%) cases. All cases proved to be the usual type of squamous intraepithelial neoplasia; no single case of the simplex (differentiated) variant was present. The main mechanisms of pigmented squamous intraepithelial neoplasia of the anogenital area include melanin incontinence and occurrence of melanin in dysplastic keratinocytes. Colonization of the dysplastic epithelium by dendritic melanocytes seems to contribute, but it is rarely a prominent feature.

Dermatoscopic differences between atypical melanocytic naevi and thin malignant melanomas.

Dermatoscopy is used to aid in the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. The aim of this study was to identify dermatoscopic differences between atypical melanocytic naevi and thin malignant melanomas. A set of 180 difficult cases (60 thin melanomas, 120 clinically atypical benign melanocytic naevi) was analysed. Differences in structure, distribution of pigmentation, presence or absence of important structures, total number of colours and asymmetry of the lesions were identified. The three-structure type, multifocal distribution of pigmentation, eccentric peripheral hyperpigmentation, multiple colours (three or more) and asymmetry of structures/colours in the dermatoscopic image were considerably more frequent in melanomas than in benign lesions (P<0.001, chi-squared test). No single dermatoscopic criterion exists to discriminate between all melanocytic lesions with sufficient confidence. Some criteria are helpful in the differential diagnosis and management of difficult cases.

Cryosurgery in the treatment of earlobe keloids: report of seven cases.

BACKGROUND: Keloids are benign cutaneous lesions that result from excessive collagen synthesis and deposition. Earlobe keloids in particular are seen as a complication of plastic surgery or piercing. Many different treatment modalities have been used, often with unsatisfactory results. METHODS: We have made a retrospective analysis of seven young patients (ages 9 to 22 years) with earlobe keloids. Scarring followed plastic surgery in six cases and piercing in one case. All patients were treated with cryosurgery as the monotherapy. The freeze time and the number of sessions varied depending on the clinical findings, the effect of the treatment, and the patients' tolerance. Cryotherapy was started 6 to 24 months after keloid development. RESULTS: Scar volume was reduced in all cases. Complete flattening in five patients and a pronounced reduction to a maximum of 25% of the previous thickness in one other patient were achieved. One patient discontinued the therapy because of soreness after only partial improvement. The procedure was painful for all patients; no further side effects were noticed. No recurrence was observed within 1 to 4.5 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: We present an excellent effect of cryosurgery as the monotherapy for the treatment of earlobe keloid scars of young patients.

[The use of the 308 nm excimer laser for the treatment of psoriasis]. / Die Anwendung des Excimerlasers 308 nm zur Psoriasis-Behandlung.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Standard phototherapy for psoriasis (311 nm UVB or photochemotherapy) exposes the non-affected skin to potentially damaging irradiation. The use of 308 nm XeCl excimer laser allows the selective irradiation of psoriatic lesions. We evaluated its therapeutic effectiveness. PATIENTS/METHODS: 28 patients with plaque stage psoriasis were involved in the study, 26 of them could be evaluated. In each patient a single plaque was chosen and then exposed to the laser irradiation thrice weekly. The initial dose was twice the MED (minimal erythema dose); the dosage was increased by one MED every second treatment. The usual dosages were 2-5 MED, while the cumulative UVB dosage was 3.6-15.2 J/cm2. 17 Patients were treated 6 times, while 11 were treated 10 times. The Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) was calculated for the individual plaque in order to assess the effectiveness of the therapy. The patients were followed regularly for 3 months following treatment, and then checked again at 1 year. RESULTS: Most patients showed clear improvement. In 90% the PSI at the end of treatment was reduced by at least 50%; in 72% it was only 33% of the pre-treatment value. The results between the patients receiving 6 and 10 treatments were similar. In 6 patients, the psoriatic lesion was still absent after 1 year, while in an additional 7, there had been long term improvement. The most common side effects were erythema and pruritus (100%), blisters (35%) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (80%). CONCLUSION: The use of the 308 nm excimer laser is effective for chronic localized psoriasis and may lead to long-lasting remissions.