ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To determine whether location and gender in addition to patient age might be useful in discriminating parameters between malignant melanoma (MM) and Spitz nevus (SN); 1228 cases of MM and 967 cases of SN were analyzed. METHODS: Computerized records were studied and compared as to frequency and density, and the results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Spitz nevi (SNs) were found to predominate on the thighs (32.6 % of the cases in women, 19.9 % of the cases in men); in persons younger than 40 years of age, in both genders they were found 8.1 times more frequently than MM in this location. In contrast, MMs on the trunk in persons 40 years of age or older in both genders were 7.4 times more frequent compared with SN. LIMITATIONS: There has been no follow-up of the patients, and the question whether SN are benign tumors was not assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The only locations that appear to be of additional diagnostic help when differentiating between these two tumors are the thighs in patients younger than 40 years of age, suggesting SN, and the trunk in patients 40 years of age or older, suggesting MM.
Subject(s)
Melanoma/diagnosis , Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Age Factors , Female , Humans , Male , Risk Assessment , Sex Factors , ThighABSTRACT
Handling of Vaccinia virus represents a risk for laboratory-acquired infections, especially in individuals without completed vaccination. We report the case of a Vaccinia infection in a previously vaccinated researcher working with various genetically modified strains. We could confirm the infection by electron microscopy, positive cell culture, virus-specific PCR, sequence analysis, and viral neutralization test. The isolated virus carried a functionally inactivated cytohesin-1 gene of human origin, which had been shown to impair leukocyte adhesion by interacting with the LFA/ICAM-1 axis. The immunomodulating nature of the inserted construct might thus have added to the infectivity of the virus. We emphasize on the necessity of Vaccinia vaccination in laboratory staff working in the field.
