Real-world data on the effectiveness of brodalumab in patients with moderate-to severe plaque psoriasis in the Greek clinical setting (the BrIDGE study).

BACKGROUND: Despite that brodalumab's efficacy and safety have been assessed in randomized clinical trials, real-life data remain scarce. BrIDGE was an observational, prospective, single-cohort, multicentre study that recruited patients with moderate-to severe plaque psoriasis in Greece. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to assess the proportion of patients who achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)100 after 24 weeks. Other endpoints included: the maintenance of PASI90/100 through to 104 weeks, the short-term response [PASI75/90/100 and static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) 0/1] to brodalumab at 12-16 weeks and time to complete clearance. Moreover, we explored the change in quality of life [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) 0/1] and adherence to brodalumab. METHODS: Two hundred patients who were initiating treatment with or switching to brodalumab, were recruited. Analyses were conducted using the as observed data and three imputation approaches were also applied for the missing data (last observation carried forward, 'worst case' and 'best case' scenario). Continuous variables were reported using summary statistics, whereas categorical variables were reported in frequency tables. RESULTS: Based on the 'as observed data', 42.0% of patients achieved PASI100 at Week 24 after 25.9 ± 3.5 weeks and 65% of patients attained PASI100 at Week 104. In total, 70.2%, 47.5% and 32.0% achieved PASI75/90/100, respectively, whereas 72.6% of patients achieved sPGA 0/1, at Weeks 12-16. With respect to sPGA status 82.8%, 89.2% and 92.5% of patients achieved sPGA 0/1 at Weeks 24, 52 and 104, respectively. The time to achieve PASI100 at Weeks 12-16 was 13.7 ± 1.3, 52.1 ± 3.4 weeks at Week 52 and 105.5 ± 4.8 weeks at Week 104. Mean DLQI and Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI) scores decreased by 11.4 ± 7.0 and 15.4 ± 6.5 points from baseline to Week 104, respectively. Adherence to treatment was equal to 98.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Brodalumab confers rapid and durable responses, as well as improvements in the quality of life of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients.

S2k guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of linear IgA dermatosis initiated by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

INTRODUCTION: Linear IgA dermatosis (LAD) is a rare subepidermal autoimmune bullous disease (AIBD) defined by predominant or exclusive immune deposits of immunoglobulin A at the basement membrane zone of skin or mucous membranes. This disorder is a rare, clinically and immunologically heterogeneous disease occurring both in children and in adults. The aim of this project is to present the main clinical features of LAD, to propose a diagnostic algorithm and provide management guidelines based primarily on experts' opinion because of the lack of large methodologically sound clinical studies. METHODS: These guidelines were initiated by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force Autoimmune Bullous Diseases (AIBD). To achieve a broad consensus for these S2k consensus-based guidelines, a total of 29 experts from different countries, both European and non-European, including dermatologists, paediatric dermatologists and paediatricians were invited. All members of the guidelines committee agreed to develop consensus-based (S2k) guidelines. Prior to a first virtual consensus meeting, each of the invited authors elaborated a section of the present guidelines focusing on a selected topic, based on the relevant literature. All drafts were circulated among members of the writing group, and recommendations were discussed and voted during two hybrid consensus meetings. RESULTS: The guidelines summarizes evidence-based and expert opinion-based recommendations (S2 level) on the diagnosis and treatment of LAD. CONCLUSION: These guidelines will support dermatologists to improve their knowledge on the diagnosis and management of LAD.

Use of Dermoscopy among Greek Dermatologists in Everyday Clinical Practice: A National Questionnaire-Based Study.

Background: Dermatoscopy has been established as an important diagnostic tool for a wide range of skin diseases. This study aims to evaluate the use of dermatoscopy in clinical practice among Greek dermatologists. Methods: A nationwide questionnaire-based survey was conducted collecting data on the frequency of dermatoscopic examinations, the types of lesions examined, training and educational resources, as well as factors influencing the choice to incorporate dermatoscopy into daily clinical routines. Results: A total of 366 Greek dermatologists participated in the survey. Most of the respondents reported the daily use of dermatoscopy in their practice. Pigmented and non-pigmented lesions, inflammatory diseases, cutaneous infectious, hair disorders, and nail lesions were the most common indications for dermatoscopy. Factors influencing the utilization of dermatoscopy included increased diagnostic accuracy, enhanced patient care, better patient communication and general compliance, and improved satisfaction among dermatologists. Conclusions: This national questionnaire-based study demonstrates that dermatoscopy has become an integral part of daily dermatological practice in Greece. The findings highlight the significance of structured training and education to promote dermoscopy's effective and routine use. Incorporating dermatoscopy into clinical practice not only improves diagnostic precision but also enhances patient care, contributing to the overall quality of dermatological services in Greece.

European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Part 2. Treatment-Update 2023.

In order to update recommendations on treatment, supportive care, education, and follow-up of patients with invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a multidisciplinary panel of experts from the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), and the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was formed. Recommendations were based on an evidence-based literature review, guidelines, and expert consensus. Treatment recommendations are presented for common primary cSCC (low risk, high risk), locally advanced cSCC, regional metastatic cSCC (operable or inoperable), and distant metastatic cSCC. For common primary cSCC, the first-line treatment is surgical excision with postoperative margin assessment or micrographically controlled surgery. Achieving clear surgical margins is the most important treatment consideration for patients with cSCCs amenable to surgery. Regarding adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with high-risk localised cSCC with clear surgical margins, current evidence has not shown significant benefit for those with at least one high-risk factor. Radiotherapy should be considered as the primary treatment for non-surgical candidates/tumours. For cSCC with cytologically or histologically confirmed regional nodal metastasis, lymph node dissection is recommended. For patients with metastatic or locally advanced cSCC who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiotherapy, anti-PD-1 agents are the first-line systemic treatment, with cemiplimab being the first approved systemic agent for advanced cSCC by the Food and Drugs Administration/European Medicines Agency. Second-line systemic treatments for advanced cSCC, include epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (cetuximab) combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Multidisciplinary board decisions are mandatory for all patients with advanced cSCC, considering the risks of toxicity, the age and frailty of patients, and co-morbidities, including immunosuppression. Patients should be engaged in informed, shared decision-making on management and be provided with the best supportive care to improve symptom management and quality of life. The frequency of follow-up visits and investigations for subsequent new cSCC depends on underlying risk characteristics.

European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Part 1: Diagnostics and prevention-Update 2023.

Invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common cancers in white populations, accounting for 20% of all cutaneous malignancies. Overall, cSCC mostly has very good prognosis after treatment, with 5-year cure rates greater than 90%. Despite the overall favourable prognosis and the proportionally rare deaths, cSCC is associated with a high total number of deaths due to its high incidence. A collaboration of multidisciplinary experts from the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) and the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), was formed to update recommendations on cSCC, based on current literature and expert consensus. Part 1 of the guidelines addresses the updates on classification, epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, staging and prevention in immunocompetent as well as immunosuppressed patients.

Metformin in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Is It Worth Pursuing Further?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) often coexists with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, or impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Metformin is a medication used for the treatment of diabetes, acting in multiple ways. There is evidence that it decreases inflammatory cytokines, some of which are implicated in the pathogenesis of HS (TNF-α, IL-17). We performed a systematic review of data regarding the efficacy and safety of metformin for the treatment of HS. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov), as well as the abstracts compendia of major dermatologic congresses, were searched. A total of 133 patients received metformin for HS across 6 studies, 117 of whom received it as monotherapy. The great majority of participants were female, in their thirties and overweight or obese, with one study including only children. The efficacy tools employed varied widely. Four studies (106 patients) documented improvement, 1 documented treatment failure, and 1 had mixed results. Only mild and transient side effects were noted. Metformin has been tried in few HS patients with acceptable efficacy in a fair number of them. As it is generally well tolerated and reasonably priced, carefully designed clinical trials comparing it with placebo are worth performing.

Real-Life Data on the Management of Incompletely Excised Basal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The histopathologic presence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cells at one or more margins of the specimen after surgical excision is considered suggestive of incomplete tumor clearance. The management of incompletely excised BCC might vary in different clinical scenarios from re-excision to application of other treatments or even watchful waiting. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were to report the real-life management of incompletely excised BCC in a tertiary referral center and compare the recurrence rates according to the selected management modality. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary Dermatology Center in Northern Greece. Our electronic database was scanned over a 5-year period to retrieve all BCCs with available histopathologic assay reporting at least one involved margin (lateral or deep). The included patients were divided into 3 groups according to the selected management after incomplete excision: group 1 included those who underwent immediate re-excision (n = 26), group 2 those who were followed up without any additional therapy (n = 40), and group 3 those who were treated with adjuvant/complementary non-surgical treatment (n = 18). Finally, we recorded the presence or absence of residual tumor in the new histopathologic report of those tumors that were selected to be re-excised (group 1). The primary outcome was the appearance of clinical tumor recurrence. RESULTS: Of 1,689 BCCs recorded in our database, 84 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Re-excision had been selected in 26 of 84 patients (group 1), watchful waiting in 40 (group 2), and non-surgical treatments in 18 (group 3). The histopathologic reports of the 26 tumors of group 1 that were re-excised revealed residual tumor in 14 (53.8%) cases. Overall, a clinical recurrence occurred in 14 of 84 patients (16.7%) after a mean follow-up of 17 months. The median time to recurrence was 14 months. Of 40 patients without any treatment, recurrence developed in 10 (25%), while only 2 of 18 patients treated with non-surgical treatments recurred (11.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that positive histopathologic margins after BCC excision result in a clinical recurrence only in a proportion of patients. This percentage is higher when no further treatment is applied and lower when the area is re-excised or treated with imiquimod alone or combined with cryotherapy.

Apremilast in Psoriasis Patients With Serious Comorbidities: a Case Series and Systematic Review of Literature.

Introduction: Patients with serious comorbidities are traditionally excluded from clinical trials. Apremilast is not contraindicated in active infections, malignancy and serious hepatic or renal impairment, but real-life data is needed to support this recommendation. Objectives: The aim of this paper is to present our personal as well as literature-sourced real-world evidenced on apremilast use in psoriasis patients with serious baseline comorbidities. Methods: A case-series and systematic literature review were performed. The psoriasis archives of a tertiary-care hospital, four electronic databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Google scholar) and other sources were searched (January 2014 - July 2021). Identified records were considered eligible, if they reported on the use of apremilast monotherapy in psoriasis patients with chronic infections, history of malignancy, serious liver, renal, psychiatric, or other disease(s). Results: At least 841 psoriasis patients with serious baseline diseases received apremilast. Only 3 cases of cancer progression and no infection reactivations or worsening of other diseases were documented. No increased frequency/severity of adverse events or reduced drug efficacy were noted. Main limitations of this study are the exclusion of a few reports due to inappropriately documented data and the fact that at least some patients might have been counted more than once. Conclusions: Apremilast is a safe and adequately efficacious option for psoriasis that cannot be treated/is challenging to treat with classic systemic agents and/or biologics.

Real world experience of brodalumab treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in the Greek population: Results from an interim analysis of the BrIDGE study.

Brodalumab's clinical efficacy and favorable safety profile have been demonstrated during controlled clinical trials, but real-world data remain scarce. BrIDGE, an ongoing 104 week, observational, prospective, multicenter study conducted in Greece, enrolled moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients, with body surface area (BSA) > 10 or psoriasis area severity index score (PASI) > 10 and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) > 10, based on European consensus, initiating brodalumab treatment as per routine clinical practice. This interim analysis includes evaluations 12-16 weeks following treatment initiation. Key efficacy endpoints included proportion of patients achieving static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) score of "clear/almost clear" (0/1) and a reduction ≥75%, 90%, 100% from baseline in PASI (PASI75, PASI90, and PASI100) at weeks 12-16. Other endpoints included time to achieve PASI100, changes in self-reported DLQI and psoriasis symptom inventory (PSI) at weeks 12-16. From 200 patients (mean age 51.4 years, 70% male, mean disease duration 13.8 years) enrolled, 72.8% achieved sPGA of 0/1, whereas 70.2%, 47.5%, and 32.0% achieved corresponding PASI75, PASI90, and PASI100 responses following 12-16 weeks of brodalumab treatment, according to the "as-observed" analysis. The mean time to achieve PASI100 was 13.7 ± 1.2 weeks for the 32% who achieved PASI100. Concurrent decreases in mean DLQI and PSI were observed. Furthermore, 90% adherence to brodalumab was noted and nine adverse events were reported. Brodalumab confers substantial clinical improvements short-term as reflected by high levels of skin clearance in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients within 12-16 weeks of treatment under everyday clinical conditions, followed by improvements in symptoms and quality of life and a favorable safety profile.

Hidradenitis-suppurativa-bedingte Kosten, ein Plädoyer für Aufmerksamkeit: eine systematische Literaturübersicht.

Die Daten zu Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)-bedingten Kosten sind begrenzt und inhomogen. Sie sind jedoch erheblich. Wir führten eine systematische Sichtung der Literaturberichte durch, in denen finanzielle Daten über jeden Gesundheitsbereich oder andere Ausgaben dokumentiert wurden, die durch HS und/oder HS-bedingte Auswirkungen auf Beschäftigung, Einkommen und persönliches wirtschaftliche Entwicklung entstanden sind (indirekte Kosten). Dafür wurden drei elektronische Datenbanken durchsucht (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect und die Cochrane Library -letzte Suche: 14. September 2021). Alle Kosten wurden inflationsbereinigt (2022) und in US-Dollar umgerechnet. Es wurden 23 Artikel eingeschlossen (18 Krankheitskostenstudien, 4 Beobachtungsstudien und 1 Fallserie), in denen ökonomische Daten von 77.287 HS-Patienten erfasst wurden. Die durch HS entstandenen durchschnittlichen jährlichen Kosten pro Patient reichten von 258 $ bis 8.078 $. Diese Zahl erhöhte sich bei chirurgischen Eingriffen, Krankheitsprogression, Antibiotika-Versagen und bestimmten Begleitkrankheiten. Der kostspieligste Faktor war die stationäre Versorgung, gefolgt von ambulanter und Notfallversorgung. Signifikante Unterschiede wurden zwischen den USA und den übrigen untersuchten Ländern beobachtet. Im Vergleich zu Psoriasis-Patienten waren Krankenhausaufenthalte bei HS wahrscheinlicher, länger und kostspieliger, während die weniger kostspielige ambulante Versorgung bei HS-Patienten verringert war. Das Vermeiden der Krankheitsprogression durch frühzeitige Diagnose und Optimierung der ambulanten dermatologischen Versorgung könnte HS-bedinge Ausgaben reduzieren.

Hidradenitis suppurativa-related expenditure, a call for awareness: systematic review of literature.

Data regarding hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)-related expenditure is limited and non-homogeneous, but HS does incur significant expenses. We performed a systematic review of literature reports documenting financial data regarding any healthcare domain or other expenditure incurred by HS and/or HS impact on work, income and personal economic growth (indirect costs). Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library - last search date: September 14th , 2021). All costs were adjusted for inflation (2022) and converted into US dollars. Twenty-three papers were included (18 cost-of-illness studies, 4 observational studies and 1 case series), drawing economic data from 77,287 HS patients. The total mean cost incurred by HS per patient per year ranged from $ 258 to $ 8,078. This number increased in case of surgical intervention, disease progression, antibiotic failure and certain comorbid diseases. The costliest healthcare sector was inpatient care, followed by outpatient and emergency care. Significant differences were observed between the USA and the rest of studied countries. Hospitalization was likelier, lengthier, and costlier for HS compared to psoriasis patients, whereas the less costly outpatient care appeared to be reduced among HS patients. Preventing disease progression by optimizing early diagnosis and dermatology outpatient care could decrease HS-related expenditure.

Extensive acquired macular hyperpigmentation in a teenager.

A teenage girl with phototype IV skin presented with extensive gradually progressing asymptomatic macular hyperpigmentation not responding to topical steroids for several months. Histopathology showed foci of increased numbers of melanophages and melanin in the dermis. Click here for the corresponding questions to this CME article.

Adalimumab Effect on Pain in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Pain is experienced by most patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and has a severe impact on their quality of life. Its management still presents a challenge. Adalimumab, a TNF-a antagonist, has shown promising results in HS-related pain reduction. Objectives: To aggregate and synthesize all existing evidence regarding the effect of adalimumab on HS-associated pain. Methods: We identified original controlled and uncontrolled studies with participants receiving adalimumab, which included change in pain score post-treatment compared to baseline as an end-point. We searched MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The primary endpoint of our study was the mean change (continuous variable) of pain scores at week 12 compared to baseline. Results: We performed a meta-analysis of 4 randomized controlled trials (282 patients in the intervention group and 266 patients in the control group). Adalimumab brought about a 0.418 reduction in mean pain score at its worst with 95%CI [-0.588, -0.248] and P = 0.000 at 12 weeks after treatment commencement. Four more studies were included in a qualitative synthesis, 2 of which reported statistically significant reduction in pain scores at week 12. Conclusions: Adalimumab could be prescribed more readily in cases of HS associated with significant pain.

Apremilast Survival and Reasons for Discontinuation in Psoriasis: Five-Year Experience From a Greek Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Drug survival is an indirect measure of efficacy and safety and its post-marketing assessment using real-life data is invaluable. Objectives: To investigate the survival of apremilast in a cohort of psoriasis patients treated with apremilast in a Greek hospital. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study examined adult psoriasis patients receiving apremilast (March 2016 to January 2021). Primary endpoint was the cumulative survival probability at 52 weeks. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate survival probability. Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate potential risk factors for apremilast discontinuation. Results: One hundred and two patients (29.4% females) with a mean age of 55.9 years (standard deviation 15.21) were included. Sixty-five patients (63.7%) had discontinued treatment by lock date: 19 (18.6%) due to lack of efficacy, 24 (23.5%) due to loss of efficacy, 15 (14.7%) due to adverse reactions, and 7 (6.9%) due to other reasons. Cumulative survival probability at 52 weeks was 52.1%. Median survival time for all reasons for discontinuation was 58 weeks (95% Confidence Interval 40.02, 75.98). Conclusions: Approximately half of patients remained on apremilast after 1 year of treatment. Secondary drug failure was the most common reason for discontinuation.

Sub-population analysis of patients with plaque psoriasis treated with calcipotriol/betamethasone aerosol foam; effectiveness and patient satisfaction, according to baseline disease severity and prior psoriasis treatment experience, in a Greek population.

Fixed combination calcipotriol/betamethasone (Cal/BD) aerosol foam has been shown to be effective in psoriasis treatment in clinical trials, but real-world evidence is currently sparse. The real-world CELSUS study in Greece found that Cal/BD aerosol foam treatment was effective and associated with satisfaction in psoriasis patients. Patients from the CELSUS study (N = 400) were stratified by baseline disease severity according to physician's global assessment (PGA) score (mild vs. moderate vs. severe) and by previous psoriasis treatment (naïve vs. treatment-experienced). Proportions of patients achieving treatment success (clear/almost clear [PGA 0/1]) after 4 weeks' treatment with Cal/BD aerosol foam were reported for each subgroup. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and patient-reported itch, itch-related sleep loss, scaling, dry skin, and erythema numerical rating scores were reported by subgroup. At baseline, 216 (54%) patients were systemic-or-topical psoriasis treatment-naïve and 184 (46%) were treatment experienced. By disease severity, there were 135 versus 89 patients with mild, 69 versus 83 with moderate and 12 versus 12 with severe disease in the treatment-naïve versus treatment-experienced groups, respectively. In the treatment-naïve group, treatment success was achieved by 72.6%, 56.5%, and 66.7% of patients with mild, moderate, and severe disease, respectively, while the proportions in the treatment-experienced group were 60.7%, 42.2%, and 25%, respectively. Reduction from baseline in psoriasis symptoms was observed in all patient groups. The greatest reductions were observed in treatment-naïve patients with severe disease. Clinically relevant benefits were observed with Cal/BD aerosol foam in psoriasis patients, regardless of prior treatment-experience and disease severity at baseline.

Dermoscopic Predictors of Benignity and Malignancy in Equivocal Lesions Predominated by Blue Color.

BACKGROUND: Blue color in dermoscopy can be seen in a wide range of benign and malignant lesions, melanocytic or not. Some blue-colored dermoscopic criteria have been associated with specific tumors, such as blue-white veil with melanoma and homogeneous blue with blue nevi. However, when blue color occupies a large part of the lesion's surface, the dermoscopic assessment might be particularly challenging. OBJECTIVE: To identify dermoscopic predictors associated with benignity and malignancy in tumors characterized by a predominant dermoscopic presence of blue color. METHODS: We retrospectively screened our institutional database for tumors exhibiting blue color in at least 50% of their surface with available histopathologic diagnosis. Lesions with blue color covering less than 50% of their extent and lesions not histopathologically assessed were excluded. The dermoscopic images were evaluated for the presence of predefined criteria, including the characteristics of the blue color, coexisting colors, and the vascular structures. RESULTS: Of 91 included tumors, 53 were benign (35 blue nevi, 10 angiomas, and 8 seborrheic keratoses) and 38 malignant (12 melanomas and 26 basal cell carcinomas). Our analysis revealed 3 potent dermoscopic predictors of benignity: extension of blue color in more than 75% of the surface, diffuse distribution of blue color, and absence of vessels, posing a 2.3-fold, 5.6-fold, and 6.7-fold increased probability of benignity, respectively. In contrast, asymmetric distribution of blue color, blue clods, coexistence of gray color and linear vessels were significantly predictive of malignancy, posing a 8.9-fold, 2.8-fold, 13.5-fold, and 10.4-fold increased probability, respectively. CONCLUSION: In predominantly blue tumors, the probability of malignancy is high when blue color is seen in clods or is asymmetrically distributed and when gray color or linear vessels coexist. In contrast, a diffuse distribution of blue color, its expansion in more than 75% of the surface, and the absence of vessels are highly suggestive of a benign tumor.

Scalp Psoriasis and Biologic Agents: A Review.

Scalp-localized psoriasis is common among patients affected with plaque psoriasis, rendering its treatment exceedingly difficult. Furthermore, the symptoms caused by the disease like scaling, erythema, and pruritus, among others, pose a major psychological impact and a significant regression in the quality of life of the affected patients. Biologics have proved their efficacy in assuaging the symptoms, in terms of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) reduction, and offering optimum quality of life, by decreasing the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in the patients suffering from plaque psoriasis. Herein, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of biologics and small molecules in controlling the symptoms and their ability to offer long-term maintenance in the disease activity.

Accuracy of dermoscopic criteria for the differential diagnosis between irritated seborrheic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Even with the addition of dermoscopy, a significant morphologic overlap exists between irritated seborrheic keratosis (ISK) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the dermoscopic criteria that could serve as potent predictors for the differential diagnosis between ISK and SCC. METHODS: Dermoscopic images of histopathologically diagnosed ISKs and SCCs were evaluated by 3 independent investigators for the presence of predefined criteria. RESULTS: A total of 104 SCCs and 61 ISKs were included. The main dermoscopic predictors of SCC were dotted vessels (odds ratio [OR], 10.4), branched linear vessels (OR, 5.30), white structureless areas (OR, 6.78), white circles surrounding follicles (OR, 23.45), a diffuse irregular (OR, 2.55) or peripheral (OR, 2.8) vessel arrangement, and a central scale arrangement (OR, 3.35). Dermoscopic predictors of ISK were hairpin vessels (OR, 0.38), a diffuse regular vessel arrangement (OR, 0.39 and OR, 0.36), and white halos surrounding vessels covering more than 10% of the lesion (OR, 0.29 and OR, 0.12). LIMITATIONS: First, the retrospective design of the study; second, the differential diagnosis included in the study was restricted to ISK and SCC. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the significant morphologic overlap between ISK and SCC, but we also identified potent predictors for the differential diagnosis between these 2 entities.