Risk factors for keratinocyte carcinoma skin cancer in nonwhite individuals: A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Because most of the US population will consist of nonwhite individuals by the year 2043, it is essential that both physicians and patients are educated about skin cancer in nonwhite persons. OBJECTIVE: To update the epidemiology, investigate specific risk factors, and facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention of keratinocyte carcinoma in nonwhite individuals. METHODS: Institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review of all nonwhite patients who had received a biopsy-proven diagnosis of skin cancer at Drexel Dermatology during June 2008-June 2015. RESULTS: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer in black and Asian populations, and basal cell carcinoma was the most common skin cancer in Hispanics. Black persons exhibited the majority of their SCC lesions in sun-protected areas, particularly the anogenital area. On average, current smokers received skin cancer diagnoses 12.27 years earlier than former smokers and 9.36 years earlier than nonsmokers. LIMITATIONS: Single-center design and interpractitioner variability of skin examination. CONCLUSION: The importance of lesions in photoprotected areas in nonwhite individuals should not go overlooked. However, emphasis should also be placed on active examination of sun-protected areas in nonwhite persons and recognition of the relationship between human papillomavirus and genital SCC lesions. Smoking cessation should be integrated in dermatologic counseling of all patients. Interventions tailored to each of these ethnic groups are needed.

Prevalence and Types of Genital Lesions in Organ Transplant Recipients.

Importance: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common skin cancer diagnosed in solid organ transplant recipients (OTRs) and confers significant mortality. The development of SCC in the genital region is elevated in nonwhite OTRs. Viral induction, specifically human papillomavirus (HPV), is hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of these lesions. Objective: To assess the prevalence and types of genital lesions observed in OTRs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective review included 496 OTRs who underwent full skin examination from November 1, 2011, to April 28, 2017, at an academic referral center. The review was divided into 2 distinct periods before a change in clinical management that took effect on February 1, 2016 (era 1) and after that change (era 2). Patient awareness of genital lesions was assessed. All lesions clinically suggestive of malignant tumors were biopsied and underwent HPV polymerase chain reaction typing. Main Outcomes and Measures: Number and types of genital lesions, proportion of malignant tumors positive for HPV, and patients cognizant of genital lesions. Results: Of the total 496 OTRs, 376 OTRs were evaluated during era 1 (mean [SD] age, 60 years; age range, 32-94 years; 45 [65.2%] male; 164 [43.6%] white) and 120 OTRs were evaluated during era 2 of the study (mean age, 56 years; age range, 22-79 years; 76 [63.3%] male; 30 [25.0%] white). Overall, 111 of the 120 OTRs (92.5%) denied the presence of genital lesions during the history-taking portion of the medical examination. Genital lesions were found in 53 OTRs (44.2%), cutaneous malignant tumors (basal cell carcinoma and SCC in situ) in 6 (5.0%), genital SCC in situ in 3 (4.2%), and condyloma in 29 (24.2%). Eight of the 12 SCC in situ lesions (66.7%) were positive for high-risk HPV. Seven tested positive for HPV-16 and HPV-18, and 1 tested positive for high-risk HPV DNA but could not be further specified. Conclusions and Relevance: Genital lesions in OTRs are common, but awareness is low. All OTRs should undergo thorough inspection of genital skin as a part of routine posttransplant skin examinations. Patients with darker skin types are disproportionately affected by cutaneous genital malignant tumors and should undergo a targeted program of early detection, prevention, and awareness focused on the risk of genital skin cancer after transplant. High-risk HPV subtypes are associated with genital SCC in OTRs. Additional studies are warranted to identify significant risk factors for HPV infection and to assess the utility of pretransplant HPV vaccination in the prevention of cutaneous genital malignant tumors.

Corset Trunkplasty: Recommended with Abdominal Skin Laxity and Open Cholecystectomy Scar.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing abdominoplasty with previous upper abdominal wall scars are at an increased risk for postoperative complications. The corset trunkplasty is a newer technique to treat abdominal wall laxity of the entire anterolateral abdomen while incorporating any previous open cholecystectomy scar. The authors performed a comparative outcomes study to determine whether the corset procedure would decrease the incidence of postoperative complications in patients with abdominal wall laxity and an open cholecystectomy scar when compared with traditional abdominoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on patients who underwent traditional and corset abdominoplasty. Patients were divided into four groups: traditional with scar, corset with scar, traditional no scar, and corset no scar. Evaluated metrics included procedure time, postoperative length of stay, complications, reoperations, and readmission rates. RESULTS: Fifty-eight subjects were included in the study (traditional with scar, n = 15; corset with scar, n = 13; traditional no scar, n = 15; and corset no scar, n = 15). Demographics were similar among groups: body mass index, 33.7 kg/m; age, 44.3 years; and American Society of Anesthesiologists status, 2.5. The corset procedure took longer than the traditional method, regardless of whether a scar was present (146.1 minutes versus 125.7 minutes). However, the traditional with scar group had the greatest length of stay and higher complication, readmission, and reoperation rates. The corset with scar group had comparable outcomes to the corset no scar and traditional no scar groups. CONCLUSIONS: The corset trunkplasty procedure resulted in fewer adverse outcomes compared with traditional abdominoplasty in patients with previous open cholecystectomy scar. Its use should be considered in patients with significant abdominal wall laxity and existing upper abdominal surgical scars. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Comparison of Posttransplant Dermatologic Diseases by Race.

Importance: The risk for skin cancer has been well characterized in white organ transplant recipients (OTRs); however, most patients on the waiting list for organ transplant in the United States are nonwhite. Little is known about cutaneous disease and skin cancer risk in this OTR population. Objective: To compare the incidence of cutaneous disease between white and nonwhite OTRs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective review of medical records included 412 OTRs treated from November 1, 2011, through April 22, 2016, at an academic referral center. Prevalence and characteristics of cutaneous disease were compared in 154 white and 258 nonwhite (ie, Asian, Hispanic, and black) OTRs. Clinical factors of cutaneous disease and other common diagnoses assessed in OTRs included demographic characteristics, frequency and type of cancer, anatomical location, time course, sun exposure, risk awareness, and preventive behavior. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary diagnosis of malignant or premalignant, infectious, and inflammatory disease. Results: The 412 patients undergoing analysis included 264 men (64.1%) and 148 women (35.9%), with a mean age of 60.1 years (range, 32.1-94.3 years). White OTRs more commonly had malignant disease at their first visit (82 [67.8%]), whereas nonwhite OTRs presented more commonly with infectious (63 [37.5%]) and inflammatory (82 [48.8%]) conditions. Skin cancer was diagnosed in 64 (41.6%) white OTRs and 15 (5.8%) nonwhite OTRs. Most lesions in white (294 of 370 [79.5%]) and Asian (5 of 6 [83.3%]) OTRs occurred in sun-exposed areas. Among black OTRs, 6 of 9 lesions (66.7%) occurred in sun-protected areas, specifically the genitals. Fewer nonwhite than white OTRs reported having regular dermatologic examinations (5 [11.4%] vs 8 [36.4%]) and knowing the signs of skin cancer (11 [25.0%] vs 10 [45.4%]). Conclusions and Relevance: Early treatment of nonwhite OTRs should focus on inflammatory and infectious diseases. Sun protection should continue to be emphasized in white, Asian, and Hispanic OTRs. Black OTRs should be counseled to recognize the signs of genital human papillomavirus infection. Optimal posttransplant dermatologic care may be determined based on the race or ethnicity of the patients, but a baseline full-skin assessment should be performed in all patients. All nonwhite OTRs should be counseled more effectively on the signs of skin cancer, with focused discussion points contingent on skin type and race or ethnicity.

Prior video game utilization is associated with improved performance on a robotic skills simulator.

Laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery, two forms of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), have recently experienced a large increase in utilization. Prior studies have shown that video game experience (VGE) may be associated with improved laparoscopic surgery skills; however, similar data supporting a link between VGE and proficiency on a robotic skills simulator (RSS) are lacking. The objective of our study is to determine whether volume or timing of VGE had any impact on RSS performance. Pre-clinical medical students completed a comprehensive questionnaire detailing previous VGE across several time periods. Seventy-five subjects were ultimately evaluated in 11 training exercises on the daVinci Si Skills Simulator. RSS skill was measured by overall score, time to completion, economy of motion, average instrument collision, and improvement in Ring Walk 3 score. Using the nonparametric tests and linear regression, these metrics were analyzed for systematic differences between non-users, light, and heavy video game users based on their volume of use in each of the following four time periods: past 3 months, past year, past 3 years, and high school. Univariate analyses revealed significant differences between heavy and non-users in all five performance metrics. These trends disappeared as the period of VGE went further back. Our study showed a positive association between video game experience and robotic skills simulator performance that is stronger for more recent periods of video game use. The findings may have important implications for the evolution of robotic surgery training.