Aggressive basal cell epithelioma on sunlight-protected skin. Report of eight cases, one with pulmonary and bone metastases

This report concerns a series of eight patients with large basal cell epitheliomas that occurred on sunlight-protected areas of the trunk. Histologically, the neoplasms exhibited highly "invasive" features and were complicated by recurrences. Five years after removal of one of the neoplasms by surgical excision, regional lymphatic metastasis occurred. This was followed by distant metastases to the lung and pelvic bone.     

Acral Milia‐Like Idiopathic Calcinosis Cutis in a Child with Down Syndrome: Report of a Case,Review of the Literature,and Description of Dermoscopic Findings

Abstract: Milia‐like idiopathic calcinosis cutis (MICC) is a rare dermopathy, usually occurring in children with Down syndrome. We report a case of an 8‐year‐old girl with Down syndrome who presented with histologically verified MICC, briefly review the literature on MICC, discuss the differential diagnosis, and describe the use of dermoscopy in the evaluation of lesions, which we believe has never been published previously with this entity.     

Familial anetoderma

A 31-year-old Caucasian male presented with a history of erythematous, saccular outpouchings of the skin on his back, shoulders, and upper extremities (Fig. 1). The patient reported that his mother and aunt had a similar skin disorder, which initially began with inflammation, but healed leaving lax skin in its wake. He did not recall the name of the skin condition. Physical examination revealed large confluent zones of sac-like protrusions of erythematous skin on the back and shoulders. Histopathologic examination of the excisional biopsy revealed a relatively unremarkable epidermis. Perivascular lymphocytes were present in small numbers in the papillary dermis. Adnexal structures and deep dermis remained intact. The acid-orcein-Giemsa stain highlighted the absence of elastic fibers within the mid and lower reticular dermis (Fig. 2a,b), consistent with anetoderma.     

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma and superficial spreading malignant melanoma: an unusual combination*

We report pigmented lesions in 2 white male patients, which were clinically diagnosed as superficial spreading malignant melanoma and histologically showed combined features of superficial spreading malignant melanoma in situ and pigmented basal cell carcinoma. The significance of this association is not known but is most likely very rare.     

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30): translation and validation study of the Iranian version

The objective of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Iranian version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). The English-language version of the questionnaire was translated into Persian (Iranian language), and its final form was approved by the EORTC Study Group on Quality of Life before it was used in this study. The questionnaire was administered at two time points to a consecutive sample of 168 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, and almost all of them (99%) found the questions easy to understand and acceptable. Crohnbach's alpha coefficient for multi-item scales (to test reliability) ranged from 0.48 to 0.95 at baseline and from 0.52 to 0.98 at follow-up administration of the questionnaire. Validity was checked using two methods: inter-scale correlation and known-groups comparison. Almost all inter-scale correlations were statistically significant in the expected direction. Known-groups comparison analysis showed that all functioning and symptom scales discriminated between subgroups of patients differing in clinical status as defined by their performance status and disease stage. In general, the findings of this study indicate that the Iranian version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in cancer patients and can be used in clinical trials and studies of outcome research in oncology.