Biomed Res Int 2017 26;2017:6803756. Epub 2017 Feb 26.

Chair of Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Grzegórzecka 16, 31-351 Kraków, Poland.

Background. Dendritic cells could be involved in immune surveillance of highly immunogenic tumors such as melanoma. Their role in the progression melanocytic nevi to melanoma is however a matter of controversy. Read More

J Dermatol 2017 Feb 13. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Fundación Alcorcón, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain.

Digital dermoscopy (DD) follow up is a useful strategy for monitoring patients at high risk of melanoma. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a valuable second-level examination after dermoscopy for the evaluation of difficult to diagnose lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the value of RCM in routine DD monitoring of patients at high risk of melanoma. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2017 Apr 24;137(4):905-909. Epub 2016 Nov 24.

Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address:

A well-defined risk factor and precursor for cutaneous melanoma is the dysplastic nevus. These benign tumors represent clonal hyperproliferation of melanocytes that are in a senescent-like state, but with occasional malignant transformation events. To portray the mutational repertoire of dysplastic nevi in patients with the dysplastic nevus syndrome and to determine the discriminatory profiles of melanocytic nevi (including dysplastic nevi) from melanoma, we sequenced exomes of melanocytic nevi including dysplastic nevi (n = 19), followed by a targeted gene panel (785 genes) characterization of melanocytic nevi (n = 46) and primary melanomas (n = 42). Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 Feb 9;76(2):244-249. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address:

Background: Dysplastic nevi with severe atypia (severely dysplastic nevi [SDN]) are frequently re-excised because of the concern that these lesions may in fact represent early melanoma. Data on long-term follow-up of these patients are limited.

Objective: We sought to determine the rate of subsequent melanoma development in patients with SDN who underwent re-excision versus those who did not and to determine factors associated with decision to re-excise. Read More

G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2016 Dec;151(6):728-730

Department of Dermatology, Bagcilar Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey -

Support Care Cancer 2016 Dec 27;24(12):4849-4859. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Sydney at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia.

Purpose: People with melanoma often report pervasive fears about cancer recurrence, unmet information needs, and difficulties accessing psychological care. Interventions addressing the supportive care needs of people with melanoma are rare, and needs are often overlooked. The study evaluated a newly developed, evidence-based, psycho-educational resource for people with melanoma. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2017 Jan;39(1):49-52

*Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY; †Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH; and ‡NYC Dermatology and Cosmetic Center, New York, NY.

Epithelial sheath neuroma is a rarely recognized but established entity in the medical literature. First described in 2000 by Requena et al, there have only been 7 published cases to date, mostly in female patients and presenting as symptomatic solitary lesions on the back without a known history of trauma. In 2006, Beer et al described and reviewed a dozen cases in which epithelial sheath neuroma-like features were seen in the advent of a surgical procedure, which was termed "re-excision perineural invasion" and attributed to possible eccrine duct implantation during surgery. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Dec 21;75(6):1171-1175. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. Electronic address:

Background: For even seasoned practitioners, early melanomas can be difficult to distinguish from melanocytic nevi. Although serial digital dermoscopy is considered by many to be the gold standard for monitoring patients at high risk, poor compliance can seriously alter efficacy. In 2014, a concerning compliance rate of 25% was reported from a single, private clinic. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Aug;75(2):e55-6

Department of Dermatology at Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain.

Vojnosanit Pregl 2016 May;73(5):449-57

Background/aim: Melanoma is the most aggresive malignant tumor of the skin. Contradictory data was published on vascular endothelial growth factor (VGEF) in tumor samples and its role in skin melanoma progression and prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of VEGF expression as a prognostic parameter in melanoma. Read More

Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol 2015 Jul-Dec;74(3-4):105-11

Unlabelled: The authors' interest was focused on prolactin status in patients with melanocytic lesions and on changes induced by interferon treatment in melanoma patients.

Material And Method: The study lasted 5 years and included 128 melanoma patients, 48 dysplastic nevi patients and 48 healthy volunteers. Sixty melanoma cases were selected after surgical removal of tumor and divided into 2 groups: 30 patients with 10 MUmp(-1) interferon alpha2b treatment, three times a week, one year and 30 patients without interferon treatment. Read More

Semin Oncol 2016 Jun 23;43(3):347-52. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC. Electronic address:

Genitourinary cancers are associated with a range of cutaneous syndromes, which can reflect direct metastatic spread, non-metastatic manifestations of malignancy or the consequences of treatment. More than 220,000 new cases of prostate cancer occur each year in the United States, and thus the associations with cutaneous involvement are quite well documented-rare metastatic spread, vasculitic and hemorrhagic syndromes. Cancers of the bladder and kidney may be associated with direct cutaneous metastases, vasculitic syndromes, hereditary leiomyomatosis, and other familial syndromes. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2016 Apr;24(1):73-7

Ewelina Bogumiła Zuba, MD, Medical University of Poznan, 49 Przybyszewskiego St, 60-355 Poznan, Poland;

Dear Editor, Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a well-known physical hazard responsible for photoaging, photoallergic, and phototoxic reactions as well as carcinogenesis, including life-threatening melanomas (1,2). Overexposure to both natural and artificial UV radiation is a public health concern. 30% of cancers diagnosed worldwide are skin cancers. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 May;74(5):1026-8

Department of Dermatology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Pathology 2016 Feb 16;48(2):147-54. Epub 2016 Jan 16.

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Electronic address:

Tumours progress to fully malignant neoplasms through stages of development in a stepwise process. A carcinogenic stimulus such as UV light typically results in a large number of lesions, most of which are benign. Most such lesions will remain stable or regress, while a few will develop cytological and architectural atypia, placing them in a morphologically 'intermediate' category between wholly benign and fully malignant. Read More

Georgian Med News 2016 Feb(251):58-64

1Department "Medicinal Information and Non-interventional studies", Bulgarian Drug Agency, Sofia, Bulgaria; 2"Onkoderma"- Ambulatory Clinic for Dermatology and Skin Surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria; 3Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical Faculty, "Saint Kliment Ohridski University"; 4Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto, Portugal; 5Department of General and Clinical pathology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria; 6Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany.

We describe a rare case of a 28 year-old male patient presenting with pruritus and increased sensitivity of the prepuce accompanied by erythematous confluent papules, unilateral nevus flammeus (NF) along almost the whole length of the right lower limb and two dysplastic nevi (DN), one located on the mid back and the other on the medial border of the right fifth toe, the latter coinciding with the NF. A biopsy of the prepuce revealed lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA). Mental health assessment revealed anxiety disorder and predisposition to panic attacks. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2016 Jul 31;43(7):557-63. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Background: The association of atypical nevi with melanoma and other forms of skin cancer has not been clearly defined.

Methods: We studied 631 patients with first lifetime diagnosis of mild, moderate or severely atypical nevus from 2000 through 2005, identified through a population-based approach.

Results: Age at first diagnosis differed significantly between men and women (p<. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Jun 28;74(6):1107-13. Epub 2016 Jan 28.

Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address:

Background: Dermoscopy allows for visualization of morphologic structures beyond the epidermis, including features that may indicate early malignant transformation. However, dermoscopic features are rarely considered during routine histologic sectioning, and areas of clinical concern may be missed during microscopic evaluation.

Objective: We assessed the diagnostic impact of a dermoscopy-guided micropunch score for the evaluation of melanocytic lesions. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Feb;74(2):389-91.e1-2

Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Jan;74(1):173-4

Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, New York, New York. Electronic address:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):1056-9

Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York. Electronic address:

JAMA Dermatol 2015 Nov;151(11):1266

Wellman Center for Photomedicine and Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachussets4Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

JAMA Dermatol 2015 Nov;151(11):1265-6

University of Hawai'i Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Jan 6;74(1):68-74. Epub 2015 Nov 6.

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address:

Background: Despite a lack of evidence that dysplastic nevi are precursors to melanoma, a large proportion of dermatologists continue to treat them as such. Emerging data suggest that histologic grading approach may result in many unnecessary excisions.

Objective: Using a nongrading approach to diagnosis of Clark/dysplastic nevi, the current study sought to define and determine the diagnostic uncertainty rate, and to report on the results of re-excisions of such lesions. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2015 Oct;42(10):786-8

Department of Dermatopathology, Centraal Laboratorium, Frankrijklei 67, Antwerpen 2000, Belgium.

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2015 Jul-Sep;29(3):695-9

“Onkoderma” –Policlinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatologic Surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria.

IMP-3 is generally considered as an oncofetal protein, which plays a critical role in regulation of cell proliferation via an IGF-II-dependent pathway in K562 leukemia cells. IMP-3 expression has been detected in malignancies with various origins, while its appearance in adult tissue is generally considered abnormal, with some exceptions. IMP3 is also considered a prognostic biomarker in patients with renal cell carcinoma and clear-cell type ovarian carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and in patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma and uterine cervical carcinomas, testicular cancer and malignant melanoma. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Oct;73(4):704-5

Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Florida Center for Dermatology, P.A., Saint Augustine, Florida. Electronic address:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Sep;73(3):515-7

Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Cockerell Dermatopathology, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Sep;73(3):513-4

Anatomic Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Sep 21;73(3):461-6. Epub 2015 Jul 21.

Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address:

Background: A number of factors other than those identified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) may have prognostic significance in the evaluation of melanoma.

Objective: We sought to evaluate commonly recorded clinical features potentially associated with aggressive melanoma.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2015 Nov;151(11):1235-9

Wellman Center for Photomedicine and Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston4Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Importance: Several kindreds having germline BAP1 mutations with a propensity for uveal and cutaneous melanomas and other internal malignancies have been described in an autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndrome. However, clinically atypical moles have not been previously recognized as a component of this syndrome, to our knowledge. We describe the first kindred to date with a germline mutation in BAP1 associated with multiple cutaneous melanomas and classic dysplastic nevus syndrome. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2015 Oct 3;54(10):e433-5. Epub 2015 Jul 3.

Department of Pathology, Penn State M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.

J Telemed Telecare 2016 Mar 26;22(2):121-6. Epub 2015 Jun 26.

VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, USA University of Washington, Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Seattle, USA

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review and identified 186 Veterans in the VA Corporate Data Warehouse as having malignant melanomas or severely dysplastic nevi during the four-year period of observation from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2013 and met inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis.

Results: Three hundred and sixty-six surgical procedures were performed for diagnosis and treatment of these conditions including biopsy and wide-local excision, of which 189 carefully selected cases were performed by primary care clinicians with 2.0% biopsy complication rate and a 7. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2015 Jun 26;8:264. Epub 2015 Jun 26.

Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Background: The p16-Leiden founder mutation in the CDKN2A gene is the most common cause of Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome in the Netherlands. Individuals with this mutation are at increased risk for developing melanoma of the skin, as well as pancreatic cancer. However, there is a notable interfamilial variability in the occurrence of pancreatic cancer among p16-Leiden families. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Sep 30;73(3):507-12. Epub 2015 May 30.

Department of Dermatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut. Electronic address:

The term "dysplastic nevus" (DN) implies that this nevus exists as a distinct and defined entity of potential detriment to its host. We examine the current data, which suggest that this entity exists as histologically and possibly genetically different from common nevus, with some overlapping features. Studies show that a melanoma associated with a nevus is just as likely to arise in a common nevus as in DN. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2015 Jun;91(11):762-7

University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL, USA.

Atypical moles are benign pigmented lesions. Although they are benign, they exhibit some of the clinical and histologic features of malignant melanoma. They are more common in fair-skinned individuals and in those with high sun exposure. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2015 Oct 1;135(10):2544-7. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Jun;72(6):943-58; quiz 959-60

Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. Electronic address:

The criterion standard for diagnosing cutaneous melanoma continues to be histologic examination. However, classifying some melanocytic lesions by conventional microscopy can be problematic if they exhibit some architectural or morphologic characteristics of both nevus and melanoma. Moreover, histologic appearance does not always predict biologic behavior. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2015 Sep 19;173(3):849-51. Epub 2015 Aug 19.

Department of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, U.S.A.

J Cutan Med Surg 2015 Sep-Oct;19(5):457-63. Epub 2015 Apr 1.

Division of Dermatology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada Lynde Center for Dermatology, Markham, Canada.

Background: The management of dysplastic nevi is controversial. No studies have collected data regarding management of the lesion amongst Canadian dermatologists.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive review of what the prevailing opinions are, regarding treatment and terminology of dysplastic nevi, amongst Canadian dermatologists. Read More

Comput Med Imaging Graph 2015 Jul 7;43:44-52. Epub 2015 Mar 7.

Le2i-UMR CNRS 6306, Université de Bourgogne, BP 47870, 21078 Dijon, France.

Malignant melanoma causes the majority of deaths related to skin cancer. Nevertheless, it is the most treatable one, depending on its early diagnosis. The early prognosis is a challenging task for both clinicians and dermatologist, due to the characteristic similarities of melanoma with other skin lesions such as dysplastic nevi. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2015 Apr 22;40(3):231-7. Epub 2015 Feb 22.

Department of Dermatology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, UK.

Several types of maculopapular melanocytic naevi can occur in a multiple form, and be arranged in a nonrandom fashion on the skin. The most frequently reported segmentally grouped naevi are lentigines. Two types of segmentally arranged lentigines probably exist. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2015 Apr;151(4):417-21

Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.

Importance: The BRAF V600E mutation accounts for the majority of BRAF mutations found in cutaneous melanoma and is also commonly found in nevi. We used dermoscopy-targeted sampling and a microbiopsy device coupled with DNA sequence analysis to highlight BRAF V600E heterogeneity within a multicomponent melanocytic proliferation. This sampling technique demonstrates the prospect of in vivo application in a clinical setting. Read More

Pathologe 2015 Feb;36(1):46-50, 52

Heinz-Werner-Seifert-Institut für Dermatopathologie Bonn, Trierer-Str. 70-72, 53115, Bonn, Deutschland,

Dysplastic nevus is still a controversial entity both clinically and histologically. The occurrence of dysplastic nevus especially in the context of dysplastic nevus cell syndrome is associated with an increased risk for melanoma. The following minimal histological criteria should be fulfilled: nests of melanocytes varying in size and shape, bridging and confluent, proliferation of single melanocytes basal and suprabasal, cytoplasmic and nuclear atypia of melanocytes and subepidermal fibroplasia. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2015 Jan;91(2):130-1

University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Dermatol Surg 2015 Jan;41(1):159-61

Huntsman Cancer Institute, Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dermatol Surg 2015 Jan;41(1):158-9

Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology New York University Langone Medical Center New York, New York.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2014 Dec 15;71(6):1257-1258.e4. Epub 2014 Nov 15.

Dermatoepidemiology Unit, VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Dermatology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Dermatology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Jan 5;72(1):85-91. Epub 2014 Nov 5.

Department of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1) is reported to be associated with internal malignancies. The association of myotonic dystrophy with cutaneous tumors is not fully understood.

Objective: We sought to explore the total nevi count and the presence of atypical nevi, cutaneous melanoma, and other skin neoplasms in a representative cohort of patients with MD1 and to compare the findings with age- and sex-matched control subjects. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2015 Feb;151(2):212-8

Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia15Division of Dermatology, Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia.

Importance: The management of clinically atypical nevi/dysplastic nevi (CAN/DN) is controversial, with few data to guide the process. Management recommendations for DN with positive histologic margins were developed by the Delphi method to achieve consensus among members of the Pigmented Lesion Subcommittee (PLS) of the Melanoma Prevention Working Group (MPWG) after reviewing the current evidence.

Objectives: To outline key issues related to the management of CAN/DN: (1) biopsies of CAN and how positive margins arise, (2) whether incompletely excised DN evolve into melanoma, (3) current data on the outcomes of DN with positive histologic margins, (4) consensus recommendations, and (5) a proposal for future studies, including a large-scale study to help guide the management of DN with positive margins. Read More