Search

Background: The last melanoma staging system of the 2009 American Joint Committee on Cancer takes into account, for stage IV disease, the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the site of distant metastases., Objective: Our aim was to compare the significance of metastatic volume, as evaluated at the time of stage IV melanoma diagnosis, with other clinical predictors of prognosis., Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentric study. To establish which variables were statistically correlated both with death and survival time, contingency tables were evaluated. The overall survival curves were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method., Results: Metastatic volume and number of affected organs were statistically related to death. In detail, patients with a metastatic volume >15 cm(3) had a worse prognosis than those with a volume lower than this value (survival probability at 60 months: 6.8 vs. 40.9%, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier method confirmed that survival time was significantly related to the site(s) of metastases, to elevated LDH serum levels and to melanoma stage according to the latest system., Conclusion: Our results suggest that metastatic volume may be considered as a useful prognostic factor for survival among melanoma patients.

Background: Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a frequent benign epithelial skin tumor. Generally its diagnosis is clinical, however SK can sometimes clinically simulate a melanocytic lesion; therefore we need dermoscopy to reach a correct diagnosis. Milia-like cysts and comedo-like openings are the common dermoscopic features of SK, but it is not a rare finding that SK can display one or more dermoscopic patterns suggestive of a melanocytic origin., Objectives: We describe a case series of SKs with a blue globular pattern simulating a melanocytic lesion., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 224 SKs seen during 2011 at the Dermatoscopy Unit of the Department of Dermatology, University of Rome 'Sapienza'., Results: Five SKs showed a blue globular pattern, without the SK main features generally seen in dermoscopy; globules were multiple, round or oval, well-demarcated, small and medium-sized, blue-colored and equally distributed within the lesion. Histopathologic examination was consistent with acanthotic SK., Conclusions: Identification of the blue globular pattern can be helpful for the dermoscopic diagnosis of SK, especially when its common dermoscopic features are absent., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Dermoscopy allows early detection of melanoma also on acral volar skin. The majority of melanocytic nevi on palms and soles may show three major dermoscopic patterns: the parallel-furrow pattern, the lattice-like pattern, and the fibrillar pattern. Melanomas at these sites are characterized by the parallel ridge pattern. We present the case of a 59-year-old woman who had an oval papule of bluish color, measuring 0.6 x 0.9 cm, localized on her left sole, that had been present, unchanged, for more than 10 years. Dermoscopy showed a parallel ridge pattern. The histopathological examination revealed a combined blue nevus. We present this case to underline that on acral volar skin also intradermal nevi, such as combined blue nevi, may dermoscopically exhibit a parallel ridge pattern, simulating melanoma., (Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.)