Successful implementation of handheld reflectance confocal microscopy as the standard of care in the (surgical) management of lentigo maligna (melanoma).

BACKGROUND: Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has shown promise in predicting surgical outcomes by non-invasively detecting subclinical lentigo maligna (melanoma) (LM/LMM). OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of presurgical mapping using handheld RCM (HH-RCM) on surgical treatment, follow-up outcomes and management decisions. METHODS: A total of 117 consecutive LM/LMM cases (2015-2023) were included. The diagnostic accuracy of HH-RCM in detecting subclinical LM and invasive components was evaluated. The primary endpoints included histological margin status and changes in management based on the outcomes of the HH-RCM mapping procedure. Margin and follow-up outcomes were compared to a historical cohort before HH-RCM was introduced in our center (n = 94) (2003-2014). RESULTS: HH-RCM detected subclinical LM in 60% (n = 60) of cases. The median mapping duration was 14 min (range 4-50). In 27% (n = 33), the mapping procedure resulted in modified management, the majority consisting of limited surgery with adjuvant imiquimod (n = 15) or imiquimod monotherapy (n = 14). The remaining cases (n = 84) underwent HH-RCM-assisted surgery. Histological margins were cleared in 96.5% of the patients with a median histological margin of 3.0 mm, significantly higher than 81% in the historical cohort (median 2.0 mm) (p = 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for detecting the extent of subclinical LM were 94% (95% CI 80.4-99.3) and 84% (95% CI 70.3-92.7), respectively. The negative predictive value for the detection of LMM was 94% (95% CI 84.4-97.7), and 75% of the initially missed LMM (n = 12) were identified during the HH-RCM mapping procedure. The study cohort had a 1.6% local recurrence rate compared with 25% in the historical cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating HH-RCM as the standard of care could lead to more personalized treatment strategies for LM/LMM and allows for the selection of patients suitable for nonsurgical treatment.

Lentigo maligna (melanoma): A systematic review and meta-analysis on surgical techniques and presurgical mapping by reflectance confocal microscopy.

Because of an increased risk of local recurrence following surgical treatment of lentigo maligna (melanoma) (LM/LMM), the optimal surgical technique is still a matter of debate. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different surgical techniques and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) on local recurrence and survival outcomes. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed databases through 20 May 2022. Randomized and observational studies with ≥10 lesions were eligible for inclusion. Bias assessment was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies instrument. Meta-analysis was performed for local recurrence, as there were insufficient events for the other clinical outcomes. We included 41 studies with 5059 LM and 1271 LMM. Surgical techniques included wide local excision (WLE) (n = 1355), staged excision (n = 2442) and Mohs' micrographic surgery (MMS) (n = 2909). Six studies included RCM. The guideline-recommended margin was insufficient in 21.6%-44.6% of LM/LMM. Local recurrence rate was lowest for patients treated by MMS combined with immunohistochemistry (<1%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.9%), and highest for WLE (13%; 95% CI, 7.2%-21.6%). The mean follow-up varied from 27 to 63 months depending on surgical technique with moderate to high heterogeneity for MMS and WLE. Handheld-RCM decreased both the rate of positive histological margins (p < 0.0001) and necessary surgical stages (p < 0.0001). The majority of regional (17/25) and distant (34/43) recurrences occurred in patients treated by WLE. Melanoma-associated mortality was low (1.5%; 32/2107), and more patients died due to unrelated causes (6.7%; 107/1608). This systematic review shows a clear reduction in local recurrences using microscopically controlled surgical techniques over WLE. The use of HH-RCM showed a trend in the reduction in incomplete resections and local recurrences even when used with WLE. Due to selection bias, heterogeneity, low prevalence of stage III/IV disease and limited survival data, it was not possible to determine the effect of the different surgical techniques on survival outcomes.

One-stop-shop with confocal microscopy imaging vs. standard care for surgical treatment of basal cell carcinoma: an open-label, noninferiority, randomized controlled multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: Routine punch biopsies are considered to be standard care for diagnosing and subtyping basal cell carcinoma (BCC) when clinically suspected. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the efficacy of a one-stop-shop concept using in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging as a diagnostic tool vs. standard care for surgical treatment in patients with clinically suspected BCC. METHODS: In this open-label, parallel-group, noninferiority, randomized controlled multicentre trial we enrolled patients with clinically suspected BCC at two tertiary referral centres in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Patients were randomly assigned to the RCM one-stop-shop (diagnosing and subtyping using RCM followed by direct surgical excision) or standard care (planned excision based on the histological diagnosis and subtype of a punch biopsy). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with tumour-free margins after surgical excision of BCC. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients included, 73 (77%) had a BCC histologically confirmed using a surgical excision specimen. All patients (40 of 40, 100%) in the one-stop-shop group had tumour-free margins. In the standard-care group tumour-free margins were found in all but two patients (31 of 33, 94%). The difference in the proportion of patients with tumour-free margins after BCC excision between the one-stop-shop group and the standard-care group was -0·06 (90% confidence interval -0·17-0·01), establishing noninferiority. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed new treatment strategy seems suitable in facilitating early diagnosis and direct treatment for patients with BCC, depending on factors such as availability of RCM, size and site of the lesion, patient preference and whether direct surgical excision is feasible.

A Randomised Controlled Trial of Consent Procedures for the Use of Residual Tissues for Medical Research: Preferences of and Implications for Patients, Research and Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Despite much debate, there is little evidence on consequences of consent procedures for residual tissue use. Here, we investigated these consequences for the availability of residual tissue for medical research, clinical practice, and patient informedness. METHODS: We conducted a randomised clinical trial with three arms in six hospitals. Participants, patients from whom tissue had been removed for diagnosis or treatment, were randomised to one of three arms: informed consent, an opt-out procedure with active information provision (opt-out plus), and an opt-out procedure without active information provision. Participants received a questionnaire six weeks post-intervention; a subsample of respondents was interviewed. Health care providers completed a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire. We assessed percentage of residual tissue samples available for medical research, and patient and health care provider satisfaction and preference. Health care providers and outcome assessors could not be blinded. RESULTS: We randomised 1,319 patients, 440 in the informed consent, 434 in the opt-out plus, and 445 in the opt-out arm; respectively 60.7%, 100%, and 99.8% of patients' tissue samples could be used for medical research. Of the questionnaire respondents (N = 224, 207, and 214 in the informed consent, opt-out plus, and opt-out arms), 71%, 69%, and 31%, respectively, indicated being (very) well informed. By questionnaire, the majority (53%) indicated a preference for informed consent, whereas by interview, most indicated a preference for opt-out plus (37%). Health care providers (N = 35) were more likely to be (very) satisfied with opt-out plus than with informed consent (p = 0.002) or opt-out (p = 0.039); the majority (66%) preferred opt-out plus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that opt-out with information (opt-out plus) is the best choice to balance the consequences for medical research, patients, and clinical practice, and is therefore the most optimal consent procedure for residual tissue use in Dutch hospitals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register NTR2982.

[Specific dermatoses of pregnancy]. / Specifieke zwangerschapsdermatosen.

Dermatoses related to pregnancy or the postpartum period are known as the specific dermatoses of pregnancy. These dermatoses include (a) pemphigoid gestationis (synonym: herpes gestationis), (b) polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (synonym: pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy; PUPPP), (c) prurigo of pregnancy and (d) pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy. Of these disorders, only pemphigoid gestationis has a known cause: an allogeneic immune reaction of the mother to the placental basal membrane. Itching or an itchy skin eruption is often the main symptom ofa dermatosis of pregnancy. During the diagnostic process, the possibility of a pre-existing or de novo skin disorder unrelated to the pregnancy should be considered. Correct diagnosis is important for the choice of treatment and for the prognosis of mother and child, because some dermatoses of pregnancy, such as pemphigoid gestationis, constitute a health risk.

[Diagnostic image (268). A man with 'pyodermia' in the beard area]. / Diagnose in beeld (268). Een man met 'pyodermie' in de baardstreek.

A 61-year-old man developed tinea barbae (kerion barbae) caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes varietas interdigitale following prolonged intensive care treatment for septic shock and meningitis. Whenever a suppurative folliculitis develops, fungal infection is a possible cause.

[Cutaneous myiasis caused by a double infestation with larvae of Dermatobia hominis and Cochliomyia hominivorax]. / Cutane myiasis door een dubbelinfestatie met larven van Dermatobia hominis en Cochliomyia hominivorax.

In a 51-year-old man who had visited Surinam, cutaneous myiasis was diagnosed, caused by simultaneous infestation with the larvae of two different species of flies: Dermatobia hominis and Cochliomyia hominivorax. On his right lower arm the man had two solitary, furuncle-like lesions with a central breathing hole. Two days after these holes had been occluded with vaseline, two white larvae of D. hominis emerged. On both ankles the man had large, undermined ulcers containing hundreds of creeping larvae about 2 cm in length with a salmon-like colour: C. hominivorax. The larvae were removed from the ulcers by hand and by rinsing with physiological saline, after which the wounds healed rapidly. Myiasis is seen in the Netherlands mostly in people returning from a holiday in myiasis-endemic areas.