[Translated article] Safety in Dermatologic Procedures: How to Prevent,Recognize, and Treat Bleeding Complications in Dermatologic Surgery

Bleeding complications during dermatologic surgery are uncommon and usually minor, but bleeding occasionally leads to infection, wound dehiscence, or flap/graft necrosis. This review covers the keys to preventing, recognizing, and treating excessive bleeding during and after surgery.     

[Translated article] Safety in Dermatologic Procedures: Basic and Advanced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

This article in the series on safety in dermatologic procedures covers the delivery of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (using no devices), instrumental resuscitation (using an automated external defibrillator), and pharmacological resuscitation (using adrenaline). We provide a brief overview of the updated 2021 European Resuscitation Council guidelines and offer an algorithm and visual aids to support recommended practices.     

[Translated article] Safety in Dermatologic Procedures: Accidental Injury to Major Blood Vessels and Nerve Structures

This article in the series “Safety in Dermatologic Procedures” deals with the accidental laceration of major blood vessels and nerve structures during surgery. We first look at the anatomic location and course of the blood vessels and nerve structures that are most at risk of injury and then describe the possible outcomes in each case. We finally offer some recommendations on how to avoid damage to structures in danger zones and how to repair them if they are accidentally compromised.     

[Translated article] Practical Considerations About Optimal Skin Incisions/Excisions in Dermatologic Surgery with Emphasis on Incisions Orientation and Primary Cutaneous Melanoma Surgery

Dermatologic surgery has 2 main objectives: 1) to guarantee surgical radicality; and 2) to achieve optimal aesthetic and functional results. These 2 paradigms and their hierarchy must be considered when performing surgical procedures on the skin. Even the easiest intervention, the elliptical excision, presents some features that should be known to achieve such goals. One of these features is the incision orientation.The optimal incisions orientation is still matter of debate, especially because studies that compare the outcomes of performing incisions in different directions are lacking. However, some anatomical, clinical, and histological observations may point out why incising the skin in one orientation is better than another.Knowing the theory behind skin incisions/excisions become of outmost importance when dealing with primary cutaneous melanoma surgery. Especially if the melanocytic lesion is suspected to be an invasive melanoma and a sentinel lymph node biopsy will be required.     

[Translated article] Trichoscopy: An Update

Trichoscopy is a simple, noninvasive office procedure that can be performed using a handheld or digital dermatoscope. This tool has gained popularity in recent years, because it provides useful diagnostic information for hair loss and scalp disorders by enabling the visualization and identification of distinctive signs and structures. We present an updated review of the trichoscopic features described for some of the most common hair loss disorders seen in clinical practice. Dermatologists should be familiar with these helpful features, as they can significantly aid the diagnosis and follow-up of numerous conditions, such as alopecia areata, trichotillomania, and frontal fibrosing alopecia.     

[Translated article] Update on Lentigo Maligna: Diagnostic Signs and Treatment

Lentigo maligna is an in situ cutaneous melanoma that arises in sun-damaged skin. Its most common presentation is a progressive, slow-growing, irregularly pigmented spot on the face of older patients. Although the exact percentage of lentigo maligna that progresses to invasive tumors is unknown, it is thought to lie between 2% and 5%. Both the clinical and histologic diagnosis of lentigo maligna can be challenging, especially in patients with early-stage or atypical disease. Treatment also holds challenges, because lesions are located in highly visible areas and are often large. Surgery can thus compromise cosmetic and sometimes functional outcomes. We review clinical and histopathological findings that can facilitate the diagnosis of lentigo maligna. We also examine treatment options, with a focus on surgery.     

[Translated article] Aquagenic Keratoderma: Treatment Update

Aquagenic keratoderma is an uncommon acquired dermatosis characterized by edema and whitish-translucent papules triggered by immersion or contact with water. Cases have been described in association with certain medications, hyperhidrosis, and cystic fibrosis. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for aquagenic keratoderma. We reviewed the literature and analyzed treatments for aquagenic keratoderma described in case series and reports. Aquagenic keratoderma associated with hyperhidrosis can be treated effectively. Tap water iontophoresis, endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, botulinum toxin injections, and oxybutynin are effective against refractory forms. Topical salicylic acid and aluminum salts are effective, but of little value as maintenance therapy. Oral oxybutynin 5 mg/d is probably the best option for treating aquagenic keratoderma. The reported pathophysiological effects of nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs in this setting suggest that the use of prostaglandins might be justified. Additional studies are needed to investigate these hypotheses and resolve other questions.     

[Translated article] Histopathologic and Trichoscopic Correlations in Nonscarring Alopecias

Trichoscopy is an essential tool in the evaluation of alopecia. The current compilation of trichoscopic signs in this setting helps distinguish between different forms of hair loss and has improved our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms involved. The trichoscopic signs are always linked to the pathogenic mechanisms of the alopecia being examined. We examine correlations between the main trichoscopic and histopathologic findings in nonscarring alopecias.     

[Translated article] Modern Concepts in Melanocytic Tumors

The advent of molecular pathology has fueled unprecedented advances in the diagnosis and understanding of melanocytic tumors. These advances, however, have also generated concepts that may be difficult to grasp for clinical practitioners, who are not always conversant with the array of genetic techniques employed in the laboratory. These same practitioners, however, are being increasingly called on to provide treatments that are often based on the latest molecular findings for melanocytic tumors. We review the most recent concepts in the pathway classification of melanocytic tumors, including intermediate lesions known as melanocytomas. We examine the genetic and molecular techniques used to study these tumors, look at where they overlap, and discuss their limitations and some of the most difficult-to-interpret results.     

[Translated article] Subungual Melanocytic Lesions in Pediatric Patients

The study of subungual melanocytic lesions can present challenges because of the clinical and histologic characteristics of the nail unit and the difficulty of performing nail biopsies and processing specimens. These lesions can be even more challenging in children due to differences in clinical and epidemiological profiles between the adult and pediatric populations. Many of the clinical features of subungual melanocytic lesions that would raise alarm in an adult do not have the same implications in children. Consensus is also lacking on when a nail biopsy is needed to rule out malignancy in the pediatric setting. In view of these considerations and the rarity of subungual melanoma in childhood, the recommended approach in most cases is a watch-and-wait strategy. Subungual melanocytic lesions in children may also show atypical histopathologic features that are not necessarily associated with aggressive behavior. Subungual melanoma is very rare in childhood, with just 21 cases described to date. None of the patients developed visceral metastasis or died as a result and the diagnosis was controversial in many of the cases. Considering the above and the significantly higher frequency and particular characteristics of longitudinal melanonychia with a benign etiology in children, subungual melanocytic lesions should be managed differently in this setting than in adults. In most cases, a watch-and-wait approach is the most appropriate strategy.     

[Translated article] Quality Assessment of Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Treatment of Psoriasis Using the AGREE II Tool

BackgroundClinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are designed to help health professionals provide patients with excellent medical care. The last critical appraisal of CPGs on the treatment of psoriasis evaluated publications up to 2009, but several new guidelines have been published since and their methodological quality remains unclear.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the quality of CPGs on the treatment of psoriasis published between 2010 and 2020 using the Appraisal Guidelines Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool.Material and methodsWe searched for relevant CPGs in MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS (Latin American and Caribean Health Sciences Literature) as well as in the gray literature. Two reviewers working independently selected the guidelines for analysis and extracted the relevant data. Each guideline was then assessed using the AGREE II instrument by 5 reviewers, also working independently.ResultsNineteen CPGs met the inclusion criteria and most of them had been produced in high-income countries. The mean (SD) domain scores were 84.9% (14.7%) for scope and purpose, 65.5% (19.3%) for stakeholder involvement, 66.7% (15.6%) for rigor of development, 72.8% (16.8%) for clarity of presentation, 46.6% (21.7%) for applicability, and 57.0% (30.4%) for editorial independence.ConclusionsAlthough about three-quarters of the CPGs assessed were judged to be of high quality and over half were recommended for use in clinical practice, standards of guideline development need to be raised to improve CPG quality, particularly in terms of applicability and editorial independence, which had the lowest scores in our evaluation.     

[Translated article] Selection of Quality Indicators for the Certification of Dermato-Oncology Units: The CUDERMA Project Delphi Consensus Study

Quality indicators are crucial for standardizing and guaranteeing the quality of health care practices. The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) launched the CUDERMA Project to define quality indicators for the certification of specialized units in dermatology; the first 2 areas selected were psoriasis and dermato-oncology. The aim of this study was to achieve consensus on what should be evaluated by these indicators using a structured process comprising a literature review and selection of an initial list of indicators to be evaluated in a Delphi consensus study following review by a multidisciplinary group of experts. The selected indicators were evaluated by a panel of 28 dermatologists and classified as either “essential” or “of excellence”. The panel agreed on 84 indicators, which will be standardized and used to develop the certification standard for dermato-oncology units.     

[Translated article] Cutaneous and Mucosal Conditions Associated With Cocaine Use

Cocaine and some of its main adulterants, such as levamisole, can cause multiple cutaneous and mucosal manifestations, including ischemic complications, neutrophilic dermatoses, midline destructive lesions, and vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs). Striking systemic symptoms are generally not seen. In all these conditions, positive test results may be observed for antinuclear antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies, and various ANCAs, sometimes with characteristic staining patterns. Histology typically shows vascular changes, such as leukocytoclastic vasculitis, necrotizing vasculitis, and thrombi. We review the clinical, serologic, and histologic features of cutaneous and mucosal conditions associated with the use of cocaine and also look at pathophysiologic mechanisms, differential diagnoses, and treatments.     

[Translated article] Nonvenereal Infections in Spanish Dermatology Clinics: Results of the DIADERM Study

Background and objectiveThe burden of nonvenereal infections in Spanish dermatology practice has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to analyze the overall weight of these infections in outpatient dermatology caseloads.Material and methodsObservational cross-sectional study of diagnoses made by a random selection of dermatologists from the Spanish Association of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) working in outpatient dermatology clinics. The data were obtained through the anonymous DIADERM survey. Diagnoses of infectious diseases were selected using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. After excluding sexually transmitted infections, the diagnoses were classified into 22 groups.ResultsSpanish dermatologists diagnosed an estimated 16Y190 (95% CI, 9338–23Y042) nonvenereal infections on average per week, a figure that accounted for 9.33% of the dermatology caseload. The most common diagnostic groups were nonanogenital viral warts (7475 diagnoses, 46.17% of nonvenereal infections), dermatophytosis (3336, 20.61%), and other viral infections (1592, 9.84%), which included Molluscum contagiosum infections. Nonvenereal infections were more common than noninfectious dermatologic conditions in private clinics (P < .0020) and adults (P < .00001). Patients with these infections were also more likely to be discharged than those with other conditions in both public (P < .0004) and private (P < .0002) practices.ConclusionsNonvenereal infections are frequent in dermatology. They are the third most common reason for outpatient visits, behind actinic keratosis and nonmelanoma skin cancer. By enhancing the participation of dermatologists in the management of skin infections and encouraging interactions with other specialists, we will be able to carve out a niche in an area we have scarcely ventured into to date.