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Anna Lei Lamberg,1 Henrik Sølvsten,2 Ulrikke Lei,3 Gabrielle Randskov Vinding,3 Ida Marie Stender,4 Gregor Borut Ernst Jemec,5 Tine Vestergaard,6 Henrik Thormann,7 Merete Hædersdal,8 Tomas Norman Dam,9 Anne Braae Olesen10 1Dermatology Clinic, Grenaa, Central Denmark Region, 2Dermatology Clinic, Aalborg, North Denmark Region, 3Department of Dermato-Allergology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte, 4Dermatology Clinic, Charlottenlund, Capital Region of Denmark, 5Department of Dermatology, Roskilde Hospital, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Zealand Region, 6Department of Dermatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, 7Dermatology Clinic, Vejle, Region of Southern Denmark, 8Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, 9Dermatology Clinic, Nykøbing Falster, Zealand Region, 10Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Central Denmark Region, Denmark Aim of database: The Danish Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Dermatology Database was established in 2008. The aim of this database was to collect data on nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) treatment and improve its treatment in Denmark. NMSC is the most common malignancy in the western countries and represents a significant challenge in terms of public health management and health care costs. However, high-quality epidemiological and treatment data on NMSC are sparse. Study population: The NMSC database includes patients with the following skin tumors: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, and keratoacanthoma diagnosed by the participating office-based dermatologists in Denmark. Main variables: Clinical and histological diagnoses, BCC subtype, localization, size, skin cancer history, skin phototype, and evidence of metastases and treatment modality are the main variables in the NMSC database. Information on recurrence, cosmetic results, and complications are registered at two follow-up visits at 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) and 12 months (between 6 and 15 months) after treatment. Descriptive data: In 2014, 11,522 patients with 17,575 tumors were registered in the database. Of tumors with a histological diagnosis, 13,571 were BCCs, 840 squamous cell carcinomas, 504 Bowen's disease, and 173 keratoakanthomas. Conclusion: The NMSC database encompasses detailed information on the type of tumor, a variety of prognostic factors, treatment modalities, and outcomes after treatment. The database has revealed that overall, the quality of care of NMSC in Danish dermatological clinics is high, and the database provides the necessary data for continuous quality assurance. Keywords: nonmelanoma skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, epidemiology, treatment

Anna Lei Lamberg1,2, Anne Braae Olesen1,2, Annette Østergaard Jensen11Department of Clinical Epidemiology, 2Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, DenmarkBackground: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporotic fractures, such as hip fracture. Sun exposure, the natural source of vitamin D, is the main risk factor for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In this study, we examined the association between a history of hip fracture and risk of BCC and SCC.Methods: We conducted a population-based case-controlled study using data on BCC and SCC cases registered in the Danish Cancer Registry from 1990–2005. For each case, we selected five population controls matched by age and gender. We used conditional logistic regression to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), while adjusting for chronic diseases and socioeconomic status.Results: A history of hip fracture was associated with a decreased risk of BCC (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85–0.94), which was most pronounced in cases of tumors on the trunk, extremities, or at multiple sites. We found no association for SCC (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.98–1.17).Conclusion: Our study showed an inverse association between history of hip fracture and risk of BCC, but not of SCC. Sun exposure, resulting in vitamin D synthesis, may explain the link between the two diseases.Keywords: hip fracture, vitamin D, sunlight, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma

The term 'sclerosing diseases of the skin' comprises specific dermatological entities, which have fibrotic changes of the skin in common. These diseases mostly manifest in different clinical subtypes according to cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from each other. The present consensus provides an update to the 2017 European Dermatology Forum Guidelines, focusing on characteristic clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic scores and the serum autoantibodies most useful for differential diagnosis. In addition, updated strategies for the first- and advanced-line therapy of sclerosing skin diseases are addressed in detail. Part 1 of this consensus provides clinicians with an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of localized scleroderma (morphea), and systemic sclerosis including overlap syndromes., (© 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

The term 'sclerosing diseases of the skin' comprises specific dermatological entities, which have fibrotic changes of the skin in common. These diseases mostly manifest in different clinical subtypes according to cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from each other. The present consensus provides an update to the 2017 European Dermatology Forum Guidelines, focusing on characteristic clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic scores and the serum autoantibodies most useful for differential diagnosis. In addition, updated strategies for the first- and advanced-line therapy of sclerosing skin diseases are addressed in detail. Part 2 of this consensus provides clinicians with an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of scleromyxoedema and scleroedema (of Buschke)., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Telemedicine is emerging and has both clinical, scientific, and political interest. In this review, we present the present literature on implementation and describe the economic considerations when implementing telemedicine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The use of telemedicine in COPD is well-received by patients, but there is little evidence to suggest its superiority to standard outpatient care or to support better outcomes for patients. Thus, local settings and cost effectiveness should be considered during the implementational process., (Published under Open Access CC-BY-NC-BD 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)

Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an ulcerative skin disease associated with comorbidities and increased mortality; however, the literature on this topic is scarce., Objectives: To investigate the mortality, prevalence and risk of comorbidities in patients with PG., Methods: This nationwide registry nested case-control study included all inpatients and outpatients diagnosed with PG in tertiary dermatology centres in Denmark between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2016. Each case was matched on date of birth and sex with 10 unique controls. The Danish National Patient Registry was used to identify all patients and to gather information on comorbidity. Information on age, sex, vital status and emigration was obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System. The outcomes were 19 different comorbidities and all-cause mortality. Prevalence was assessed from odds ratios (ORs) for specific comorbidities at the time of PG diagnosis. The risk of developing specific comorbidities and death was assessed using hazard ratios (HRs) obtained using the Cox proportional-hazards model., Results: A total of 1604 patients with PG were matched with 16 039 controls. Some associations were known, e.g. inflammatory bowel disease [OR 19·15 (15·27-24·02), HR 6·51 (4·24-10·01)], while others have not been described previously, e.g. osteoporosis [OR 1·57 (1·22-2·02), HR 2·59 (2·08-3·22)]. Mortality was significantly increased among patients with PG [HR 2·79 (2·57-3·03)]., Conclusions: Patients with PG have increased mortality and an increased prevalence and risk of both previously reported and novel comorbidities that may have severe consequences if left undiagnosed. Our findings are mainly related to moderate and severe PG., (© 2021 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Remember EPFI as a differential diagnosis in children with a rash on the scalp and no effect of antibiotic treatment., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2021 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a disease of the elderly and may be associated with neurological and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Mortality rates strongly exceed those of the background population., Objectives: To investigate the frequency of comorbidities and their temporal relation to BP., Methods: A register-based matched-cohort study on all Danish patients with a hospital-based diagnosis of BP (n = 3281). The main outcomes were multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson disease (PD), Alzheimer disease (AD), stroke, diabetes types 1 and 2, malignancies, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension and eventually death., Results: At baseline, patients with BP had increased prevalences of MS [odds ratio (OR) 9·7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6·0-15·6], PD (OR 4·2, 95% CI 3·1-5·8), AD (OR 2·6, 95% CI 1·8-3·5) and stroke (OR 2·7, 95% CI 2·4-2·9). Furthermore, malignancies, cardiovascular disease and diabetes were over-represented among patients with BP: type 1 diabetes (OR 3·1, 95% CI 2·5-3·8), type 2 diabetes (OR 2·3, 95% CI 2·0-2·6), malignancies (OR 1·3, 95% CI 1·1-1·4), IHD (OR 1·7, 95% CI 1·5-1·9) and hypertension (OR 2·0, 95% CI 1·8-2·2). During follow-up, the risk of MS was significantly higher among patients with BP [hazard ratio (HR) 9·4, 95% CI 4·9-18·0], even if events during the first year after diagnosis of BP were excluded (HR 5·1, 95% CI 2·3-11·3). Patients with BP had an average increased mortality rate of 2·04 (95% CI 1·96-2·13)., Conclusions: We discovered a significantly increased frequency of MS among patients with BP. At the time of diagnosis, patients with BP had an excessive number of comorbidities and an increased mortality rate over the following years., (© 2017 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Background: Phosphodiesterase 5A inhibitors (PDEIs), a common treatment for erectile dysfunction, were recently linked to an increased risk of melanoma., Methods: We conducted two parallel case-control studies, using the Danish Nationwide Health Registries (DNHR) and the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) electronic health records. Identifying men with histologically verified melanoma (cases) matched on birth year to 10 cancer-free controls, we estimated odds ratios (OR) for melanoma associated with high use of PDEIs (⩾100 tablets filled), adjusting for available confounders., Results: We identified 7045 DNHR and 2972 KPNC cases with invasive melanoma. The adjusted OR for invasive melanoma associated with high PDEI use was 1.22 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99-1.49) in DNHR and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.78-1.14) in KPNC. Odds ratios were highest for localised invasive melanoma in DNHR (OR, 1.21) and melanoma in situ in KPNC (OR, 1.15), and lowest for non-localised disease in both populations (ORs 0.75 and 0.61, respectively). The increased ORs were slightly attenuated upon adjustment for markers of health-care utilisation., Conclusions: We found little evidence for a causal association between PDEI use and risk of melanoma. The marginally increased risk of early stage disease likely resulted from more frequent health-care contacts among PDEI users., Competing Interests: LAH reports research support from grants from Takeda, Sanofi, and Genentech to Kaiser Permanente Research Foundation. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Few data exist on the occurrence of metastatic basal cell carcinoma (mBCC)., Objective: To identify all cases of mBCC in Denmark over a 14-year period., Methods: We searched the Danish National Patient Registry covering all Danish hospitals, the Danish Cancer Registry, the National Pathology Registry and the Causes of Death Registry during the period 1997 to 2010 for potential cases of mBCC registered according to the International classification of diseases ICD-10 and the International Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED)., Results: We identified 126,627 patients with a history of primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the registries during the 14-year study period. Using case identifications from the four registries, a total of 170 potential mBCC cases were identified. However, after a pathology review, only five cases could be confirmed, of which three were basosquamous carcinomas. The 14-year cumulative incidence proportion of mBCC was 0.0039% (95% CI 0.0016-0.0083) among individuals with a history of previous BCC (n = 126,627) and 0.0001% (95% CI 0.0000-0.0002) in the general population., Conclusion: MBCC is a rare disease and only a small proportion of potential cases identified in automated clinical databases or registries can be confirmed by pathology and medical record review.

Background: Pruritus is a frequent complaint in patients with cancer. However, no large study has examined pruritus as a marker of undiagnosed cancer., Objectives: To examine the association between inpatient, outpatient and emergency hospital diagnoses of pruritus and subsequent cancer diagnoses., Methods: In this nationwide Danish cohort study, we used medical databases to identify all patients (n = 12,813) with a diagnosis of pruritus during the period 1978-2011 and followed them until a first-time cancer diagnosis, emigration, death or 31 December 2011. We computed standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer as the observed to expected number of cancers based on national cancer incidence rates. We calculated the 1-year absolute risk of cancer, treating death as a competing risk., Results: The overall SIR of cancer was 1.13 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.20]: 1.22 (95% CI 1.13-1.33) among men and 1.05 (95% CI 0.97-1.14) among women. The SIR was 1.20 (95% CI 1.08-1.33) among patients with a previous diagnosis of dermatological disease and 1.10 (95% CI 1.02-1.18) among patients without such a diagnosis. Both haematological and various solid cancers were observed at increased rates. Overall, the highest SIRs were observed during the first 3 months of follow-up, declining rapidly thereafter. The 1-year absolute risk of a cancer diagnosis was 1.63% and 155 patients with pruritus would have needed to be examined to detect one excess cancer., Conclusions: Pruritus may be a marker of occult cancer. Further studies are needed to assess the prognostic benefit of screening for cancer in patients with pruritus., (© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.)

In this case we describe a successful combined treatment with local anaesthetics and botulinum toxin A. A 61-year-old man with systemic sclerosis of limited type presented treatment refractory digital ulcers on his toes with a poor response to conventional treatment. A combined treatment as above-mentioned prevented a threatening amputation and improved quality of life, reduction of pain and healing of wounds. Using botulinum toxin A combined with local anaesthetics to severe toe digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis may be a solution, when other treatments have been ineffective and amputation seems to be the last option.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments are used increasingly. In order to assign clinical meaning to HRQoL scores, the interpretation of instruments is essential but lagging in dermatology., Objective: To establish a clinical interpretation of the Skin Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (SCQoL), a newly validated HRQoL instrument for patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), using an anchor-based method, and to test the responsiveness., Methods: Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to propose clinically meaningful cut-off scores for SCQoL including 101 patients with NMSC., Results: The following bands were established: score 0-3 corresponds to no impairment, 4-6 corresponds to mild impairment, 7-10 to moderate impairment and 11-27 to severe impairment of HRQoL. Testing the responsiveness shows a moderate effect size and significantly lower scores only for the domain emotion and the global item., Conclusion: Using proposed clinical cut-off scores for SCQoL may help clinicians in their decision-making, help monitoring clinical improvement and classify patients just as e.g. the Dermatology Life Quality Index can.

Background: Impaired dermatological health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been observed in hospital-based studies, but little is known on a population-based level., Objective: To investigate self-reported dermatological HRQoL in the general population., Methods: Hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, pimples, hand rash or atopic eczema were identified using questionnaires in a 15,177 person population sample. A nested case-control study of 180 cases and 259 controls was made using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Skindex-29 and EQ-5D., Results: Cases had higher scores in DLQI and Skindex-29 and a lower score in EQ-5D, suggesting lower HRQoL. Adjusting for age and sex, the differences in Skindex-29 and DLQI were significant (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Persons with self-reported skin morbidity had lower HRQoL than the general population. The impairment is not as significant as in studies of hospital-based cases, but considering the high prevalence of skin diseases it may still represent a significant burden of disease on society in aggregate., (© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a debilitating and painful disorder with an increased stimulation of the connective tissue in the skin and systemic tissues. The disease is associated with exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agent used in magnetic resonance imaging in patients with renal impairment., Methods: The prevalence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis has so far never been determined at a national level. In 2009, Denmark was the first country to design a guideline for the tracing of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis patients. The aim of this paper is to communicate the main findings of this quest., Results: The outcome of the nationwide investigation revealed that Denmark had 65 patients with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and thereby the highest prevalence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis worldwide with 65 per 5.6 million inhabitants, or 12 per million., Conclusions: The nationwide investigation in Denmark revealed the highest prevalence of NSF worldwide. This may be rooted in a high level of awareness of NSF both among doctors, politicians and, not least, the media, combined with the fact that a nationwide NSF investigation was initiated.

Background: Disease-specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaires are increasingly used to provide patient-reported out-come measures in both malignant and non-malignant disease., Objective: To create, validate and test the psychometrics of the Skin Cancer Quality of Life (SCQoL), which was designed to measure health-related QoL in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer affecting any area and undergoing any therapy., Methods and Materials: The SCQoL was developed in a stepwise approach. Three pilot studies (testing content and face validity) and psychometric testing (scale structure, reliability, domains and known-groups validity, concurrent and convergent validity) were conducted. Rasch analyses were performed on the final questionnaire., Results: The initial 10-item questionnaire was reduced to 9 items following interviews and inter-item correlations. The nine item scale was confirmed by Item Response Theory (IRT) and internal consistency. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) was found for a single item, but the effect was small., Conclusion: The final 9-item SCQoL is unidimensional and consists of 3 domains covering function, emotions and control. Furthermore there is one single global item. The total score range from 0 to 27. Higher score denote a greater impairment of the QoL., (© 2013 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Comorbid conditions may play an important role in the prognosis of melanoma patients but have received little attention., Methods: Using data from Danish registries, we identified patients diagnosed with melanoma from 1987 to 2009. We estimated the prevalence of comorbidity and calculated mortality rate ratios and interaction risks between melanoma and comorbidity. For every melanoma patient, 10 individuals were selected for comparison. Individuals in the comparison cohort were matched to their corresponding melanoma patients on age, gender, and exact prevalent comorbidities., Results: We included 23 476 patients, 81% of whom had no comorbidity. Higher prevalence of comorbidity was associated with more advanced cancer stage. The standardised mortality rate increased with increasing level of comorbidity in both cohorts and was consistently higher among melanoma patients. Melanoma and comorbidity interacted to increase the mortality rate. The highest proportional excess was seen in melanoma patients with comorbidity score 3, in whom interaction accounted for 77 deaths per 1000 person-years (40% of the total rate). We stratified by cancer stage and found that the interaction was markedly concentrated in patients with distant metastases., Conclusion: Interaction between melanoma and comorbidity was primarily concentrated in patients with distant metastases, which raises the possibility that comorbidity is associated with delay of melanoma diagnosis, advanced cancer stage, and less aggressive melanoma treatment.

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin and internal organs in patients with renal failure. No effective treatments are available., Objectives: To investigate if the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate was effective in patients with moderate to severe nephrogenic systemic fibrosis., Methods: Among 25 patients with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis evaluated for the study from 1 October 2009 to 1 December 2010, four were included. They were treated with oral imatinib mesylate at a start dose of 400 mg/day., Main Outcome Measure: Reduction of skin fibrosis and increase in joint mobility evaluated by the modified Rodnan skin score and a goniometer., Results: In two patients, the imatinib mesylate dose was reduced to 200 mg/day and in one patient to 100 mg/day. Two patients were treated for 24 weeks, one patient for 16 weeks and one patient for 4 weeks. Three patients experienced tethering of their skin which lessened with reduction in modified Rodnan skin score from 24 to 20, 24 to 17 and 21 to 14 but with very limited changes in joint mobility. The fourth patient discontinued the treatment due to a complicating infection., Conclusion: Imatinib mesylate may be an effective drug in the treatment of skin fibrosis in moderate to severe NSF cases, even at reduced doses. We found a positive clinical effect on the skin, but no convincing improvement of the joint mobility. Only few patients could be recruited limiting the interpretation and conclusions of the results., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2011 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

The aetiology of systemic sclerosis (Ssc) is unknown, but there is evidence of environmental factors playing a part in disease development in a number of cases. By examining a group of male patients with Ssc we found significant exposure to silica in 26% (6/23) of the patients compared to 2,1% in the general working population in Denmark. In the article we review the association between silica and Ssc and suggest how to question and refer patients with SSc who are suspected to have been exposed to silica.

Alcohol has not been linked definitively to non-melanoma skin cancer. We examined whether alcohol intake affects the risks for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using data on 54,766 persons enrolled in the prospective Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort. Statistical analyses were based on the Cox proportional hazards model. All hazard ratios (HRs) were multivariate adjusted. Adjustment for exposure to UVR was not possible, but all analyses were adjusted for factors related to susceptibility to UVR, including sun sensitivity, degree of freckling, and number of nevi. A total of 2,409 BCC cases and 198 SCC cases were diagnosed within a median follow-up of 11.4 years. Total current alcohol intake was not associated with BCC risk, but beverage-specific analyses showed an increased BCC risk associated with intake of wine (HR=1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.08, current average alcohol intake, per 10 g per day) and spirits (HR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21) and a decreased risk with beer (HR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.93-1.00). No convincing associations were found between total alcohol intake and risk for SCC, perhaps because of the limited number of cases. Our findings indicate that alcohol intake may increase the risk for BCC, but the relations seemed to depend on beverage type.

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is associated with underlying immunosuppression, so it may be a prognostic marker in patients with subsequent cancer. We therefore conducted a nationwide population-based Danish cohort study to evaluate whether a history of cutaneuos SCC has prognostic impact in patients with one of the following index cancers: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), or cancer of the lung, colon, rectum, breast, or prostate., Methods: We used Danish medical databases, which cover the entire Danish population of 5.6 million inhabitants and linked them using the unique personal identification number assigned to all Danish residents. From 1982 through 2003, we identified 745 index cancer patients with and 79,143 without previous cutaneous SCC. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we calculated adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: Overall, previous SCC was associated with an increased mortality of cancer (MRR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23). When examining index cancers separately, increased MRRs were found for cancer of the lung (MRR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.43), colon (MRR 1.13, 95% CI: 0.92-1.40), rectum (MRR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.00-1.67), breast (MRR 1.09, 95% CI: 0.82-1.43), and NHL (MRR 1.09, 95% CI: 0.81-1.47), but not for prostate cancer (MRR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.83-1.18)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that previous cutaneous SCC is associated with poor prognosis of some cancers. This finding stresses the importance of adherence to the existing recommendations of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in patients with a history of SCC.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for the development of cervical cancer and is also involved in vulvar, anus, penis and head and neck cancer. Little is known about the role of HPV infection in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Through a systematic review of the literature, we studied the HPV prevalence in immunocompetent individuals in relation to NMSC. We found that HPV, including multiple HPV types, tended to be more prevalent in NMSC, especially in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to basal cell carcinoma and healthy skin, indicating a potential link between HPV and SCC in immunocompetent individuals.

This article examines the learning outcome and obtainment of skills in clinical rotations. The survey involved junior doctors (JDs) and consultants responsible for education (CREs). The questionnaires covered different subjects rated on a scale. The response rate was 61% for JDs and 73% for CREs. The results show that a majority of both JDs and CREs find that the JDs obtain the skills described in the statement of aims, that the skills cannot be obtained otherwise and that the learning outcome is satisfactory compared to the use of resources.

Background: Recent data suggest a reduced risk of malignant melanoma (MM) among atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, but an increased risk of other skin cancers (including basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC])., Objective: We examined the association between AD and skin cancers in a large cohort study in Denmark from 1977 through 2006., Methods: Our cohort consisted of 31 330 AD patients recorded in the Danish National Patient Registry, including AD patients admitted to hospitals and specialized outpatient clinics. Linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry allowed ascertainment of skin cancers. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by comparing the incidence rate of skin cancers among AD patients with that among the general Danish population., Results: The overall observed number of MM cases among AD patients was 12, with 21 expected, yielding a SIR of 0.59 (95% CI 0.30, 1.02), with the most pronounced protective effect among AD patients with more than 5 years of follow-up (SIR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.19, 0.95). The corresponding SIRs for BCC and SCC were increased among AD patients (1.41 [95% CI 1.07, 1.83] and 2.48 [95% CI 1.00, 5.11], respectively)., Conclusions: Our findings support an inverse association between AD and MM, but an increased risk of BCC and SCC among AD patients.

Objective: We aimed to examine whether use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and oral contraceptives (OC) affect the risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in women., Methods: Using data from 29,875 women enrolled in the prospective "Diet, Cancer, and Health" study between 1993 and 1997, women with available information on HRT and OC use at baseline were identified. Statistical analyses were based on the Cox's proportional hazards model., Results: The mean age at enrollment in the study was 56.7 years, whereas the mean age at the end of follow-up was 67.5 years. 1,175 cases of BCC and 76 cases of SCC were identified in the cohort during follow-up through 2007. The BCC incidence rate ratio was 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07-1.37) for ever users of HRT at baseline compared to never users, whereas risk of BCC was unaffected by duration of HRT use. Ever use of HRT was not associated with SCC risk but a significantly increased risk of 1.35 (95% CI: 1.05-1.72) associated with every 5 years of HRT use was observed. No convincing associations between OC use and BCC or SCC risk were observed., Conclusion: The findings indicated that HRT but not OC may increase the risk of NMSC. However, further studies are warranted as risk estimates for SCC had relatively low precision due to a limited number of SCC cases.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the completeness of TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) staging of melanoma in the Danish Cancer Registry (DCR)., Methods: We identified 8762 patients with a first primary diagnosis of melanoma from the DCR between 2004 and 2009. We obtained information on level of comorbidity, defined according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index, through the Danish National Patient Register. We computed the completeness of TNM staging overall and by each stage component. Analyses were stratified by gender, age, year of diagnosis, and level of comorbidity. We designed an algorithm that categorized melanoma stage as localized, regional, distant, or unknown. Owing to knowledge on clinical coding practice, we allowed for categorization of tumors with certain missing stage components., Results: The overall completeness of the TNM staging was 78.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 77.5-79.3). Completeness varied little by gender and year of diagnosis. However, completeness decreased from 83.5% (95% CI 81.7-85.3) in patients aged 0-39 years to 68.7% (95% CI 65.7-71.6%) in patients 80 years or older, and from 80.3% (95% CI 79.4-81.3) among patients with a low level of comorbidity to 67.4% (95% CI 63.1-71.4) among patients with a high level of comorbidity. Using the algorithm, 87.3% of cases could be assigned to one of the defined stage categories., Conclusion: The overall completeness of the TNM registration for melanoma was fairly high but varied with age and level of comorbidity. Thus, data on TNM stage should be used with caution in epidemiological and other research.

Background: Port-wine stains are birthmarks caused by malformations of blood vessels in the skin. Port-wine stains manifest themselves in infancy as a flat, red mark and do not regress spontaneously but may, if untreated, become darker and thicker in adult life. The profusion of various lasers and light sources makes it difficult to decide which equipment is the best for treating port-wine stains., Objectives: To study participant satisfaction, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects of the treatment of port-wine stains by lasers and light sources., Search Methods: We searched the following databases up to April 2010: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Clinical Trials) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (from 2005), EMBASE (from 2007), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database, from 1982), and reference lists of articles. We also searched online trials registries for ongoing trials and contacted trial authors where appropriate., Selection Criteria: Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of lasers or light sources for the treatment of port-wine stains., Data Collection and Analysis: Our outcomes of interest were participant satisfaction, reduction in redness of the port-wine stain as determined by clinical evaluation, and short- and long-term adverse effects of the treatments. Three authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality., Main Results: We included 5 RCTs involving a total of 103 participants; all of the trials used a within-participant design. The interventions and outcomes were too varied to be combined statistically. All trials used the pulsed dye laser for comparisons.None of the studies focused on participant satisfaction, which was one of our primary outcomes, but participant preference was evaluated in three of five studies. Participants preferred the pulsed dye laser to intense pulsed light based on the clinical effect. They marginally preferred the Neodymium:YAG (yttrium-aluminium-garnet) (Nd:YAG) laser to the pulsed dye laser due to shorter lasting purpura, and pulsed dye laser in conjunction with cooling was preferred to treatment with pulsed dye laser alone.All trials examined short-term efficacy of less than six months after treatments with the pulsed dye laser, intense pulsed light, and Nd:YAG laser. The pulsed dye laser was evaluated in all five trials. Depending upon the setting of the pulsed dye laser, this resulted in more than 25% reduction in redness. This was after 1 to 3 treatments for up to 4 to 6 months postoperatively in 50% to 100% of the participants. There was only one study each of intense pulsed light and Nd:YAG laser.Two trials had no occurrence of long-term adverse effects, i.e. six months after treatment. Three trials reported pigmentary alterations in 3% to 24% of the participants, with the highest percentage occurring in Chinese participants with darker skin types. In one study one participant experienced scarring of the skin caused by a too-high dose of the laser used. Short-term side-effects included pain, crusting, and blistering in the first two weeks after treatment., Authors' Conclusions: The pulsed dye laser leads to clinically relevant clearance of port-wine stains. A limited number of RCTs evaluated the efficacy from intense pulsed light and other laser types. High-quality RCTs are needed to assess individual efficacy from different lasers and light sources, as well as participant satisfaction.

Morphea profunda is a rare disease that mainly affects young women and often has a progressive course with physical and psychological sequelae. The skin becomes sclerotic after an initial inflammatory reaction and joint contractures can develop. The aetiology is unknown. Until now, no successful therapy has been proven for this morphea variant. On the basis of new insights into the key role of effector T cells in scleroderma, in particular Th-17, T-cell directed therapies are expected to have promising effects. We report here the first two cases of morphea profunda treated with abatacept. Abatacept had a clinical effect on the active disease, in addition to softening old sclerotic lesions.

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a systemic fibrosing disease associated with exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) in patients with renal insufficiency., Objectives: To report the prevalence of NSF in a well-defined cohort of patients with renal insufficiency exposed to GBCA, to investigate if GBCA-unexposed controls showed signs of NSF and to evaluate selected risk factors among NSF cases and GBCA-exposed controls., Methods: A study among GBCA-exposed patients with renal insufficiency (n=565) was conducted to identify cases of NSF. The NSF cases found were age and sex matched and clinically compared with GBCA-exposed and unexposed patients with renal insufficiency in a case-control study., Results: We identified 17 NSF cases. No signs of NSF were observed among the controls. The prevalence of NSF was 4·7%, highest among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 exposed to GBCA and undergoing haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Three NSF cases were identified among patients with CKD stage 3 and 4. Three patients developed NSF after macrocyclic GBCA exposure. NSF cases had a tendency to have higher serum phosphate concentrations than GBCA-exposed controls., Conclusions: Our study supports the view that GBCA is a major risk factor for NSF. Importantly, we found that patients with CKD stage 3 and 4 can be at risk of NSF. NSF may also be triggered by macrocyclic GBCA. Further, we observed a trend for higher phosphate levels in NSF cases compared with controls. The important findings drawn from this case-control study indicate that NSF is not an overlooked condition among patients with renal insufficiency not exposed to GBCA., (© 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, ulcerative skin disease. Atypical PG is characterized by rapidly evolving painful vesicles and enlarging bullae. Minor trauma or surgery is considered the cause in 25-50% of PG lesions. PG often mimics necrotizing infection and may therefore be inadequately treated. We present a patient with rapidly progressing bullous PG. The lesions were initially treated surgically, which led to exacerbation of the ulcers. A decision of surgery should be preceded by bacterial culture and microscopy and in case of uncertain diagnosis also by histopathologic examination.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer among Caucasian populations worldwide, and incidence rates are increasing. However, NMSC data are not routinely collected by cancer registries, but Denmark has extensive registration of NMSC in two nationwide population-based registries. We assessed incidence trends of NMSC in Denmark from 1978 to 2007. Data for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Registry of Pathology. For both genders, age-specific incidence rates and overall incidence rates, age-adjusted according to the World standard population were calculated based on combined data from the two registries. For both genders, a high increase in both BCC and SCC incidence was observed over time. Between 1978 and 2007, the age-adjusted BCC incidence increased from 27.1 to 96.6 cases per 100,000 person-years for women and from 34.2 to 91.2 cases for men. The SCC incidence increased from 4.6 to 12.0 cases per 100,000 person-years for women and from 9.7 to 19.1 cases for men. For both BCC and SCC, women experienced a higher average annual percentage incidence change than men. Furthermore, the average annual percentage change in BCC incidence among persons below 40 years was significantly higher compared to older persons, especially for women. These trends may lead to an alarming NMSC incidence increase over time as population ages and will have major implications for future healthcare services. Our findings underline the need for improved preventive strategies to hamper the increasing NMSC incidence.

Background: Earlier studies reported an increased cancer risk among patients with systemic sclerosis. Study size limitations and paucity of population-based study designs may have resulted in imprecise risk estimates., Objectives: To assess cancer risk among patients with systemic sclerosis in a nationwide follow-up study., Methods: Patients with a first diagnosis of systemic sclerosis from 1977 to 2006 were identified from the nationwide Danish National Registry of Patients (DNRP), whose records encompass all hospitalizations and outpatient visits. Patients' DNRP records were linked to the Danish Cancer Registry. We compared their cancer incidence with that expected from cancer incidence in the general population, calculating standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: Two thousand and forty patients with systemic sclerosis were identified and followed for 16,003 person-years, with a median follow-up time of 6·4 years (interquartile range 2·2-11·5). Among these patients, 222 cases of cancer were identified. The overall SIR for cancer was 1·5 (95% CI 1·3-1·7), with a gender-specific SIR of 2·2 (95% CI 1·7-2·8) for men and 1·3 (95% CI 1·1-1·6) for women. The most frequent cancers were smoking- and alcohol-related cancers including lung cancer (SIR = 1·6, 95% CI 1·2-2·0), haematological cancers (SIR = 2·5, 95% CI 1·5-4·0) and immune-related cancers (SIR = 1·4, 95% CI 1·0-1·9)., Conclusions: Systemic sclerosis is a risk factor for cancer, particularly smoking- and alcohol-related cancers. Men with systemic sclerosis generally are at higher cancer risk than women. Both primary and secondary cancer preventive measures are needed in the care of patients with systemic sclerosis., (© 2010 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2010 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Objective: To validate a clinical database for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) with the aim of monitoring and predicting the prognosis of NMSC treated by dermatologists in clinics in the central and north Denmark regions., Methods: We assessed the completeness of registration of patients and follow-up visits, and positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity of registrations in the database. We used the Danish Pathology Registry (DPR) (n = 288) and a review of randomly selected medical records (n = 67) from two clinics as gold standards., Results: The completeness of registration of patients was 62% and 76% with DPR and medical record review as gold standards, respectively. The completeness of registration of 1st and 2nd follow up visits was 85% and 69%, respectively. The PPV and NPV ranged from 85% to 99%, and the sensitivity and specificity from 67% to 100%., Conclusion: Overall, the accuracy of variables registered in the NMSC database was satisfactory but completeness of patient registration and follow-up visits were modest. The NMSC database is a potentially valuable tool for monitoring and facilitating improvement of NMSC treatment in dermatology clinics. However, there is still room for improvement of registration of both patients and their follow-up visits.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a disease with progressive fibrosis. We describe two cases of NSF after exposure to a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) gadobutrol, which has been considered as a low-risk agent compared to linear GBCAs. The first case had chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 3 and was exposed to 17.5 ml of gadobutrol. The second case has been exposed twice to GBCA: 10 ml of gadodiamide (in 2001) and 15 ml of gadobutrol (in 2008). Before the second exposure, he had CKD Stage 5 and was in haemodialysis. Both patients have been diagnosed with NSF. Our cases suggest that cyclic GBCAs can also cause NSF.

Background: In a recent open pilot trial, R-salbutamol sulphate, a well-known molecule with anti-inflammatory effects, was tested successfully on patients with therapy-resistant discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)., Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of R-salbutamol cream 0.5% vs. placebo on DLE lesions in a multicentre, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial., Methods: Thirty-seven patients with at least one newly developed DLE lesion were randomized - 19 to the R-salbutamol cream 0.5% and 18 to placebo - and treated twice daily for 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated through scores of erythema, scaling/hypertrophy and induration as well as pain and itching; general improvement scored by the investigator and global improvement scored by patients' assessment were also evaluated., Results: The mean area under the curve of improvement for scaling/hypertrophy, pain, itching and global patient assessment was significantly better for the actively treated patients as compared with placebo (scaling/hypertrophy, P = 0.0262; pain, P = 0.0238; itching, P = 0.0135; global patient assessment, P = 0.045). Moreover, the percentage of patients without induration was significantly higher in the active group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.013), and a statistically significantly greater decrease in the size of the lesional area was also seen in the overall analysis of the R-salbutamol-treated patients (P = 0.0197). No serious adverse events were reported., Conclusions: Application of R-salbutamol cream 0.5% was safe and well tolerated. Statistically significant effects were seen on scaling/hypertrophy, induration, pain and itching as well as patient global assessment, suggesting that R-salbutamol could be a promising new topical therapy alternative for DLE.

In recent years the Department of Dermatology at Aarhus Hospital has implemented a number of changes in order to improve the training of junior medical doctors. Some of the areas in focus are introduction, more responsibility, supervision, work planning and scheduling, conferences and weekly meetings for the specialists. The changes have a positive effect in many ways as training has become more efficient, motivation among staff has risen and the working environment has improved.

In North Jutland County, Denmark, we investigated whether use of oral glucocorticoids was associated with an increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), malignant melanoma (MM), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). From the Danish Cancer Registry we identified 5422 BCC, 935 SCC, 983 MM, and 481 NHL cases during 1989-2003. Using risk-set sampling we selected four age- and gender-matched population controls for each case from the Civil Registration System. Prescriptions for oral glucocorticoids before diagnosis were obtained from the Prescription Database of North Jutland County on the basis of National Health Service data. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs), adjusting for chronic medical diseases (information about these were obtained from the National Patient Registry) and use of other immunosuppressants. We found slightly elevated risk estimates for BCC (IRR, 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07-1.25)), SCC (IRR, 1.14 (95% CI: 0.94-1.39)), MM (IRR, 1.15 (95% CI: 0.94-1.41), and NHL (IRR, 1.11 (95% CI: 0.85-1.46)) among users of oral glucocorticoids. Our study supports an overall association between glucocorticoid use and risk of BCC that cannot be explained by the presence of chronic diseases or concomitant use of other immunosuppressants.

Diuretics have photosensitising properties. However, little is known about how these diuretics affect the risk of skin cancers. In North Jutland County, Denmark, we investigated whether the use of photosensitising diuretics was associated with an increased risk for developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma (MM). From the cancer registry, we identified primary cases of BCC, SCC and MM during the period of 1989-2003. We selected four population controls for each case from the Danish Civil Registration System, matched on age and gender. Prescriptions for photosensitising diuretics before cancer diagnosis were ascertained in the county's Prescription Database. We used conditional logistic regression to compute incidence rate ratio (IRR), controlling for the chronic medical conditions and for the previous use of oral glucocorticoids. We found an increased risk of SCC (IRR of 1.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-2.21)) and MM (IRR of 1.43 (95% CI: 1.09-1.88)) among users of combined amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide therapy. An increased risk of MM (IRR of 3.30 (95% CI: 1.34-8.10)) was found among users of indapamide. We found little associations with risk of BCC. Our findings provide evidence that the use of some photosensitising diuretics is associated with an increased risk for SCC and MM.

Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a growing public health problem among Caucasians, thus mortality data that may provide insight into the clinical course and foster our understanding of NMSC are important., Objectives: We examined total and cause-specific mortality among patients with NMSC registered in the Danish Cancer Registry from 1978 to 2001., Methods: A total of 82 837 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 13 453 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were followed through the National Death Registry for specific causes of death. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed based on mortality rates in the general population., Results: Among patients with BCC, we found a slightly reduced total mortality [SMR 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-0.98] with decreased SMRs seen for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus. The SMR for suicide was increased. Among patients with SCC, we found an increased total mortality (SMR 1.30, 95% CI 1.26-1.33) due primarily to excess deaths from cancers, COPD, CVD and infectious diseases., Conclusions: We found markedly different mortality patterns among patients with BCC and those with SCC, suggesting important differences in the clinical course of these patients.