Retrospective Real-Life Data, Efficacy and Safety of Vismodegib Treatment in Patients with Advanced and Multiple Basal Cell Carcinoma: 3-Year Experience from a Spanish Center.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer and can represent a therapeutic challenge in patients with locally advanced disease. Vismodegib is a hedgehog pathway inhibitor approved by the FDA for use in this type of tumor. We present a case series to describe our experience with the use of vismodegib. METHODS: A retrospective study that included patients treated with vismodegib at our dermatology unit was conducted. Monthly follow-up was performed, and we registered the clinical evolution and adverse reactions. RESULTS: A total of six patients with locally advanced BCCs were included (50% males and 50% females), with a mean age of 78.5 years old. The treatment was administered over a mean of 5 months. A complete response was observed in four cases and partial response in two cases. No recurrence was detected, with a median follow-up duration after discontinuation of 18 months. Most patients (83%) had at least one adverse event, and two needed dose adjustment temporarily or permanently to continue. The main adverse effect was muscle spasms (66.7%). The main limitation of our study was the small sample, which was not representative of the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Vismodegib is a safe and effective treatment for locally advanced BCC, and its role in unresectable BCC seems to be an important option in these challenging cases.

Homogeneous blue pattern: A rare presentation in an acral congenital melanocytic nevus.

Acral melanocytic nevi are relatively frequent in the palmoplantar location. In congenital nevi various characteristic dermoscopic patterns have been described, such as reticular and globular patterns, brown pigmented areas, and areas with peripilar depigmentation. However, there are few reports on the dermoscopic pattern of acral congenital nevi. The homogeneous blue pattern is typical of blue nevus and is not typical of acral localization and metastasis of cutaneous melanoma. However, this pattern should be considered characteristic of acral congenital nevus.

Palmar filiform parakeratotic hyperkeratosis: A report of 2 cases.

Palmar filiform parakeratotic hyperkeratosis (PFPH) is a rare dermatosis; hyperkeratotic lesions appear as small spines on the palms and/or soles. Palmar filiform parakeratotic hyperkeratosis has been associated with a variety of malignant tumors and endocrine disorders, although these associations have not been fully demonstrated. We report two new cases of this entity without systemic pathology associated.