Preoperative measurement of thickness of cutaneous melanoma using high-resolution 20 MHz ultrasound imaging: A monocenter prospective study and systematic review of the literature.

Histologic measurement of the thickness of melanoma is a major prognostic factor and governs the size of the surgical excision (1cm for melanomas less than 1 mm thick, 2 cm for melanomas thicker than 2 mm and 3 cm beyond 4 mm). To determine whether high-resolution ultrasound can be used to predict surgical margins and, thus, to operate on patients in a single procedure avoiding further re-excision, we performed a systematic review of studies published from January 1987 to June 2007 and a prospective study. The systematic review selected 14 studies comparing histologic and ultrasound measurements and showing correlation coefficients generally greater than 0.9. Data available from 7 of the 14 studies (total 869 patients) showed predictive values of adequate margins in at least 72% of lesions using preoperative measurement of ultrasound thickness. The prospective study included 31 patients referred with a primary melanoma from March 2005 to March 2007. Ultrasound measurement of thickness was possible except for thin melanomas (<0.4 mm) in areas with marked photoaging, in the plantar zone, and in the case of very thick melanomas exceeding the explored depth (7.6 mm). The average thickness was 1.96 mm measured by ultrasound (SD: 2.15) and 1.95 mm by histology (SD: 2.62) and the Bland and Altman graph showed moderate agreement between ultrasound and histology. Limits of agreement were estimated at -1.4 and +1.8, corresponding to relative limits of agreement of -40 to +80%. Ultrasound predicted appropriate margins (1, 2 or 3 cm wide according to sonometric thickness) in 26 of the 31 subjects (84%, 95% CI 66-95). Preoperative high-resolution ultrasound is a noninvasive examination that can help in choosing appropriate surgical margins and should reduce the need of partial or excisional biopsy before surgery, and the need for further re-excision.

[Epidermoid (or squamous cell) carcinoma]. / Carcinomes épidermoïdes (ou spinocellulaires).

Cutaneous epidermoid carcinomas are common cancers that most often affect people who are elderly or immunocompromised. They may occur anywhere but are found most often on photoexposed areas because UV rays are a major risk factor for them. They often develop on precancerous lesions of the skin (actinic keratosis) but also of the mucous membranes (HPV-induced infections or lichen). Their particular clinical presentation depends on their site and their cause. Prognosis is generally good when surgical excision is performed early with a sufficient margin of healthy tissue. Nonetheless, some advanced forms or with histologic criteria indicating poor prognosis have a risk of lymph node or distant metastasis and may require more intense treatment. Their prevention is based on photoprotection and on dermatologic surveillance of at-risk subjects.

[Adult idiopathic neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis treated with colchicine]. / Hidradénite eccrine neutrophilique idiopathique de l'adulte d'évolution prolongée traitée par colchicine.

INTRODUCTION: Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a rare disease belonging to the group of neutrophilic dermatoses. It has a characteristic histopathologic pattern, with necrosis of the eccrine glands and a local neutrophilic infiltrate. It occurs mostly in patients receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloblastic leukemia or, less frequently, another malignancy. Its occurrence in healthy patients is rare. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 56-year-old woman with no remarkable medical history who developed an erythematous papular facial eruption. Skin biopsy showed typical features of neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis including neutrophilic infiltrate. No cause was found. The patient was successfully treated with colchicine. DISCUSSION: This case is particular because NEH was not associated with malignant hematologic disease, solid cancer, chemotherapy, fever or any other disease, after a follow-up of 22 months. Such idiopathic NEH has been reported only rarely in adults. The second particularity is the length of the eruption, which required colchicine treatment. Clinical improvement occurred within 1 month. Because hematologic malignancies can in some cases be preceded by neutrophilic dermatitis, clinical follow-up is recommended in adults.

Bullous hemorrhagic dermatosis occurring at sites distant from subcutaneous injections of heparin: three cases.

Cutaneous side effects from heparin administration are rare and usually located at injection sites. We report 3 cases of intraepidermal hemorrhagic blisters occurring distant from sites of subcutaneous injections of heparin. A causative link is suggested by a temporal relationship between heparin introduction and onset of disease as well as exclusion of other causes, but the mechanism remains unknown.