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BACKGROUND Deep transection of invasive melanoma precludes accurate measurement of Breslow depth, which may affect tumor staging. OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of upstaging of transected invasive melanomas after excision, characterize the impact on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCNN)-recommended treatment, and determine predictors of subsequent upstaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of invasive melanomas between January 2017 and December 2019 at a single institution. Deeply transected biopsy reports were compared with subsequent excisions to calculate the frequency of upstaging. RESULTS Three hundred sixty (49.6%) of 726 invasive melanomas identified were transected. Forty-nine (13.6%) transected tumors had upstaging that would have altered NCCN-recommended management. "Broadly" transected tumors had upstaging that would have resulted in a change in the management in 5/23 cases (21.7%) versus 2/41 cases (4.9%) for "focally" transected tumors (p = .038). Breslow depth increased by 0.59 mm on average for "broad" transection versus 0.06 mm for "focal" transection (p =< .01). Of the 89 transected pT1a melanomas, specimens with gross residual tumor or pigment after biopsy were upstaged in 8/17 (47.1%) of cases versus 5/72 (6.9%) of specimens without (p =< .01). CONCLUSION Upstaging of deeply transected invasive melanomas that would alter NCCN-recommended management occurred in 13.6% of cases. Broad transection and gross residual tumor or pigment after biopsy predicted higher likelihood of upstaging.

Background Pathologists sometimes include commentary on margin involvement in shave biopsy reports of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC). This practice can lead to confusion regarding the need for further treatment. There is limited literature evaluating the reliability of reported histologic margin status in shave biopsies of KC. Objective To evaluate the negative predictive value (NPV) of reported clear shave biopsy margins in basal and squamous cell carcinomas to determine whether this assessment is a reliable predictor of complete tumor removal. Methods A literature review was performed using the PubMed database. The data were compiled, NPVs were calculated by the tumor subgroup, and a statistical analysis was performed. Results Four studies met inclusion criteria. Two hundred twenty-one KCs were identified (n = 221). All specimens had negative-reported histologic margins (39 squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] and 182 BCC). Fifty-five cases initially noted to have negative margins on biopsy were found to have residual tumor on subsequent analysis: 5 SCC and 50 BCC, translating to 12.8% of all SCC (5/39) and 27.5% for BCC (50/182). Negative predictive values were found to be 75.1% for all KCs, 87.2% for SCC, and 72.5% for BCC. Conclusion Negative histologic margin status on shave biopsy specimens of KC has a poor NPV and is an inadequate predictor for complete tumor removal.

Background Biopsies of dysplastic nevi processed by bread-loafing allow for limited margin assessment; however, reported biopsy margins often influence management. Objective To evaluate the negative predictive value of biopsy margins of dysplastic nevi. Methods A retrospective search of a single academic institution's pathology database was conducted to identify all biopsy specimens of dysplastic nevi between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. Biopsy specimen margin assessments were compared with excision pathology reports to calculate negative predictive value and to assess the frequency of residual nevus on excision after positive biopsy margins. Results A total of 1245 dysplastic nevi from 934 patients were identified. Clear biopsy margins had a negative predictive value for the absence of residual nevus on excision of 87.3% for dysplastic nevi of moderate atypia or greater. Residual nevus was identified on excision in 29.41% of cases of dysplastic nevi of moderate atypia or greater when initial biopsy margins were positive. Limitations This was a retrospective, single-institution study. The calculations likely overestimate the true negative predictive value of biopsy margins because of processing of excision specimens by bread-loafing. Conclusions This study provides additional evidence that reported biopsy margins are not representative of true margin status.

Although an uncommon entity, familial glomangiomatosis is often a source of significant discomfort to affected patients and impacts quality of life. Patients develop numerous painful vascular lesions, beginning in childhood. Because management strategies for this entity are sparsely reported in the literature, additional study is needed to establish best practice. We report positive results with the use of Nd:YAG laser in treating symptomatic lesions of familial glomuvenous malformation