Lentigines, laser, and melanoma: a case series and discussion

Solar lentigines are considered one of the earliest signs of photoaging and are an extremely common cosmetic complaint. Successful removal of these lesions can be achieved with laser and non-laser light sources, and is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures in laser centers. Distinguishing a benign lentigo from other pigmented lesions can sometimes be challenging, even for a trained dermatologist. We report a series of three patients who presented to our laser center within 2 months of one another for cosmetic removal of pigmented lesions that were found to be melanoma. One patient was referred by another dermatologist, one by a physician family member, and the other presented on his own. These cases highlight the need for careful evaluation of pigmented lesions prior to laser treatment, regardless of the source of the referral. In this article, we will review the diagnostic and treatment differences between lentigines and their malignant counterparts, and examine the role of laser in both.     

A 71-Year-Old Woman with a Pigmented Nail Bed,which Persisted after Trauma

A 71-year-old woman presented in our out-patients department with pigmentation of the nail bed of her left large toe, which had persisted after a trauma two years earlier. An inconclusive biopsy showed melanoma in situ. The lesion was excised with amputation of the big toe at the IP-joint and closed primarily. The pathological diagnosis was melanoma in situ and lentigo maligna. The lesion had been radically excised.     

表面麻醉在化学剥脱术治疗雀斑中的应用

目的:研究表面麻醉能否有效地减轻化学剥脱术在治疗雀斑中的疼痛。方法:采用随机对照的方法,将60例雀斑患者随机分为A、B两组。B组术前用利多卡因及654-2的混合液纱布覆盖面部并用塑料薄膜封包30min,术中用改进的视觉模拟评分法进行疼痛评估,术后对皮肤过敏、色素沉着等情况进行比较。结果:疼痛评分,A组:良13例,可16例,差1例;B组优14例,良16例。疼痛值比较两组有显著差异(P<0.01)。术后过敏阳性对比两组无明显差异(P>0.05)。术后6个月色素沉着无可见差异。结论:利多卡因及654-2混合液进行表面麻醉能有效减轻化学剥脱术在治疗雀斑中的疼痛。     

Risk Factors and Predictors of Survival Among Patients with Amelanotic Melanoma Compared to Melanotic Melanoma in the National Cancer Database

BackgroundAmelanotic melanoma (AM) is a rare form of melanoma lacking pigment. Data on AM risk factors and factors predicting survival are limited.ObjectivesWe sought to identify predictors of AM, survival differences in AM and melanotic melanoma, and AM-specific survival rates.MethodsUsing 2004 through 2015 National Cancer Database data, we compared 358,543 melanoma cases to 1,384 AM cases. Multivariable logistic regression identified AM risk factors, and AM survival was explored using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression.ResultsIncreased age; tumor location on the face, scalp, and neck; increased Breslow thickness; metastatic disease; ulceration; and higher mitotic rate were associated with AM. Five- and ten-year survival rates were higher for patients with MM (melanotic melanoma) than AM tumors (75.4% vs. 58.8% and 62.4% vs 45.1%; log-rank P<0.0001). No survival difference was seen after adjusting for staging factors. Among patients with AM, more recent diagnosis was associated with improved survival. Increased age, T4 tumor size, higher N-stage, metastasis, and ulceration predicted poorer survival. No survival advantage was seen for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy, likely due to confounding.ConclusionAM is more common in older patients on sun-exposed skin and is diagnosed at later stages. Advanced staging at diagnosis explains the survival differences. In patients with AM, regional and metastatic disease were the primary contributors of poorer outcomes. In at-risk patients, the threshold to biopsy should be lower for suspicious nonpigmented lesions.     

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Oesophagus

Primary malignant melanoma arising in the oesophagus is a rare condition with a dismal prognosis. The diagnosis is often made following surgical resection even though the endoscopic features may be pathognomonic. The classical treatment is oesophagectomy even though the advanced disease stage at the time of presentation and aggressive biological behaviour of the tumour usually results in a fatal outcome. We report the case of a male patient initially diagnosed with squamous oesophageal carcinoma and treated with conventional neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. Poor clinical and radiological response resulted in a review of the original histology confirming a diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus. The subsequent alteration in management conferred the patient an improved quality of life. A short review of the literature on primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus supplements this case report.     

Defining the Role of Surgery for Primary Gastrointestinal Tract Melanoma

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the outcomes for primary gastrointestinal melanomas (PGIM). Material and methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1973–2004) was queried. Results Overall, 659 cases of PGIM were identified. The annual incidence of PGIM was approximately 0.47 cases per million in 2000. Overall median survival time was 17 months. Tumors were identified in the oral–nasopharynx (32.8%), anal canal (31.4%), rectum (22.2%), esophagus (5.9%), stomach (2.7%), small bowel (2.3%), gallbladder (1.4%), and large bowel (0.9%). Univariate analysis demonstrated age, tumor location, stage, surgery, and lymph node status were significant predictors of improved survival. MST has not been reached for tumors located in the large bowel, while tumors located in the stomach demonstrated the shortest median survival (5 months). Improvement in MST was observed for those patients undergoing surgical resection. The presence of lymph node involvement conferred a poorer prognosis. Multivariate analysis of the cohort identified that location, advanced tumor stage, failure to undertake surgical resection, positive lymph node status, and age were all independent predictors of poorer outcome. Conclusion PGIM occurs most often in the oral–nasopharynx and anal canal. Surgical extirpation is the only identifiable treatment modality that significantly improves survival.     

Prognostic Indicators in Melanoma of the Vulva

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicalpathologic variables in melanoma of the vulva.Methods: From 1979 through 1995, 40 women with a diagnosis of vulvar melanoma underwent radical surgery. Patient age, tumor size and site, histologic type, ulceration, tumor thickness, lymph node status, and number of positive lymph nodes were assessed for prognostic significance by multivariate analysis.Results: Tumor thickness was a significant predictor of lymph node involvement, but not of survival. The most powerful predictors of survival by multivariate analysis were the lymph node status (P 5 .002) and the number of positive lymph nodes (P 5 .00003).Conclusions: The number of positive lymph nodes represents the strongest prognostic factor in melanoma of the vulva. Because of the lack of effective adjuvant therapies, such prognostic indicators might be used to define the timing and extent of the surgical approach.     

Anorectal Melanoma Misdiagnosed as Hemorrhoids: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Anorectal melanoma is a rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm with an indolent course, manifesting with nonspecific symptoms and a poor prognosis. We present a case of anorectal melanoma that was initially treated as hemorrhoids and correctly diagnosed after lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. We also present the latest findings in the literature about anorectal melanomas and discuss updates about treatment options and management.     

Survival in Sinonasal Melanoma: A Meta-analysis

Sinonasal melanoma is an uncommon tumor which carries a poor prognosis and high rates of local and regional recurrence and distant metastasis. While surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, the utility of multimodality therapy has not been well studied or established. We sought to better evaluate the optimal treatment modality for sinonasal melanoma. We reviewed 39 case reports involving 423 patients with sinonasal melanoma and present a meta-analysis comparing survival by treatment modality. The two-tailed p-value for survival by treatment modality was determined. The number of primary site/local, regional, and distant recurrences was determined where data was available. There was a nonsignificant increase in survival for patients treated with surgery + radiotherapy versus surgery alone. There was a statistically significant increase in survival for surgery + chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone and versus surgery alone. Patients treated with combined surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy had a statistically shorter survival interval than patients treated with surgery + chemotherapy, which may reflect more advanced disease in patients treated with triple therapy. There was no statistically significant increase in survival found for the addition of radiation to surgery. This meta-analysis demonstrates that multimodality therapy, particularly the addition of chemo-or immunotherapy to surgery, may increase survival in a subset of patients. Radiation therapy did not appear to increase survival. There may be a significant increase in overall survival with combined modality therapy with surgery and chemo/immunotherapy versus single modality therapy. Level of evidence: III. Grade of recommendation: C.     

肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤

目的　总结肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤的诊断与治疗经验。　方法　回顾性分析 10例肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤的临床病例资料。　结果　出现症状至确诊时间平均 8( 2～ 12 )个月 ,首诊确诊 4例 ,误诊 6例。手术 9例 ,8例肿瘤直径 >3cm。其中 8例行腹会阴联合根治术 ,1例以直肠息肉、肛乳头肥大行局部切除 ,1例放弃手术仅行化疗 ,3月后死于肝、肺腹股沟等广泛转移。术后 8例行化疗 ,2例辅助放疗 ,化放疗联合应用 1例。术后 2年内死亡 5例 ,余 4例存活 ,存活最长者已超过 6年。　结论　肛管直肠恶性黑色素瘤恶性程度高 ,早期行腹会阴联合根治术是最优选择。长期生存有赖于早期治疗以及治疗方法的改进     

Malignant Melanoma of the Gallbladder: A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder is rare. When present, it is often part of a widespread complex of metastases. Primary gallbladder melanomas are also extremely rare and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from metastatic lesions. The optimal treatment for malignant melanoma of the gallbladder remains unclear, and prognosis is generally poor. We present here two cases of patients with metastatic lesions to the gallbladder. One patient presented with symptomatic cholelithiasis and was found incidentally to have a metastasis. Another patient had known a metastasis, but underwent curative resection of the only site of disease. We review the published literature for gallbladder melanoma, both primary and metastatic to determine the role of surgery in this disease.