[Prospective epidemiological study on cutaneous melanomas in the Vendée area]. / Etude épidémiologique prospective des mélanomes cutanés en Vendée.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the incidence of melanoma in the Vendée area, coastal region of Eastern France, in 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 16 dermatologists in the Vendée area in 1997, grouped together in a local association, completed a sheet for each patient in whom a new melanoma had been diagnosed. During the same period, the hospital and private pathologists of the Vendée and surrounding areas reported their new cases of melanoma in patients residing at least six months of the year in the area. The data concerning the local population was supplied by the INSEE (French national institute of economic and statistical information) and the CPAM (French health authority) supplied data on the practitioners' activity. The raw and standardized incidence was calculated by the epidemiologist and the statistician of the local Vendée Cancer registry. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen new melanomas were diagnosed in Vendée in 1997, 97 by a dermatologist and 18 declared by a pathologist. There were 36 in situ and 79 invasive melanomas discovered in 68 women and 47 men (sex ratio: 1.46). The standardized rate of incidence according to the world model was of 98/100,000 for women and 7.8/100,000 for men. The frequency curve revealed two peaks: the first at 40-50 years of age and the second at 70-75. The mean Breslow index of the 79 invasive cancers was of 1.62 mm (range: 0.10-12.5 mm). The only statistically significant difference between the melanomas of the men and the women concerned the topography; there were more melanomas on the trunk in men and more melanomas on the lower limbs in the women. Forty-seven Dubreuilh melanomas were reported: 28 in situ and 19 invasive. DISCUSSION: This prospective study determined the incidence of melanoma in Vendée in 1997. The figures have been compared with those of the Vendée cancer registry, founded in April 1997, and with those of various published studies. The comparison was difficult because of the difference in study methodology. The only figures obtained in the same conditions are those of the cancer registry and we compared them with those of the Haut-Rhin, area of Eastern France: the incidence was similar for the women in the two areas and greater for the men in the Haut-Rhin with regard to the invasive melanomas. Conversely, 44 in situ melanomas were declared in the Haut-Rhin over a 3 year period versus 37 in Vendée over a period of 1 year. The increase in the incidence of melanoma in Vendée in the years to come should permit the evaluation of the impact of the various preventive campaigns.

[Prospective clinical study on new cutaneous melanomas in the Vendée area]. / Etude clinique prospective des nouveaux mélanomes en Vendée.

INTRODUCTION: In parallel to an epidemiological study on the new cases of melanoma reported in the Vendée area in 1997, private dermatologists conducted a clinical analysis of the characteristics of melanomas (including Dubreuilh's melanoma) and of the population concerned. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For each patient in whom a melanoma had been diagnosed, the dermatologists completed a standardized sheet that included the identification, phototype (comparing the distribution with that of the local population, studied in all the consultants during a randomly selected week), the personal and family history of melanoma, the existence of severe sunburn and exposure to artificial ultra-violet rays, the screening method, the time lapse before treatment, the impact of information campaigns, the number of nevi, atypical or not, and the characteristics of the tumor. The exeresis method and the histological characteristics (type, Clark's score and Breslow's index) were also noted. RESULTS: In 1997, the 16 local dermatologists diagnosed 97 melanomas in 55 women and 42 men with a mean age of 64 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the melanomas of the men and those of the women, other than their localization. Photoype II was significantly more frequent in the population exhibiting a melanoma. Sun exposure was moderate or intensive for three thirds of the patients. Past history of severe sunburn was twofold more frequent in the patients exhibiting a melanoma on the trunk. The association of many nevi was noted in a little more than half of the patients, and with atypical nevi in 5.2 p.cent. The elements that alerted the patients were recorded. The time lapse before diagnosis was calculated in months for nodular and in years for superficial melanomas. Clark's score and Breslow's index are presented in a table. DISCUSSION: Our study underlines several interesting features: the fairly high mean age on discovery, a high rate of invasive melanomas, and patients less well informed than in the Ile de France area. These results should open the debate on the best way to educate the population concerned so as to reduce the incidence of this malignant tumor.

[Cutaneous necrosis caused by hydrofluoric acid]. / Nécroses cutanées à l'acide hydrofluorique.

INTRODUCTION: Hydrofluoric acid is a fluoride-substituted compound used in the chemical industry. Burns and hypocalcaemia result from ingestion or contact with the skin or mucosal membranes. We observed burns and skin necrosis on the hands after home use of low-concentration hydrofluoric acid. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old woman consulted in February 1994 for oedema, erythema and very painful burns of the palms of both hands. The day before, she had used a home-made furniture cleanser containing 5 p. 100 hydrofluoric acid. At admission, calcium and radiography of the two hands were normal. She was given a topical application of 5 p. 100 calcium chloride. The clinical course was favourable with squamation of both palms then necrotic lesions of the pulp on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers. DISCUSSION: Such exposure in a household situation is unusual. Hydrofluoric acid has two dangerous mechanisms of action. First it is a caustic substance producing late-onset burns and secondly hypocalcaemia results from precipitation of insoluble calcium fluoride. The risk of hypocalcaemia is greatest when a large area of the skin is exposed. Prognosis depends on early treatment based on prevention of hypocalcaemia by abundant washing of the teguments and permanent application of a 5 p. 100 calcium gluconate solution associated with local skin treatments. Careful follow-up is required with regular calcium chemistries.