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Background: Little is known about the dermoscopic features of scalp tumours. Objective  To determine the dermoscopic features of scalp tumours., Methods: Retrospective analysis of dermoscopic images of histopathologically diagnosed scalp tumours from International Dermoscopy Society members., Results: A total of 323 tumours of the scalp from 315 patients (mean age: 52 years; range 3-88 years) were analysed. Scalp nevi were significantly associated with young age (<30 years) and exhibited a globular or network pattern with central or perifollicular hypopigmentation. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer were associated with male gender, androgenetic alopecia, age >65 years and sun damage. Atypical network and regression were predictive for thin (≤1 mm) melanomas, whereas advanced melanomas (tumour thickness > 1 mm) revealed blue white veil, unspecific patterns and irregular black blotches or dots., Conclusions: The data collected provide a new knowledge regarding the clinical and dermoscopy features of pigmented scalp tumours., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2011 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: The value of total body skin examination (TBSE) for skin cancer screening is controversial., Objective: We sought to determine whether TBSE could be helpful in patients with focused skin symptoms who would not otherwise have undergone TBSE., Methods: In a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study consecutive adult patients were recruited during a period of 18 months. Physicians first inspected problem areas and uncovered areas and then performed TBSE. Equivocal lesions detected in both steps were excised or biopsied. Primary outcomes were the absolute and relative risks of missing skin cancer and the number of patients needed to examine to detect melanoma or another malignancy. A secondary outcome was the proportion of false-positive results obtained by TBSE., Results: We examined 14,381 patients and detected 40 (0.3%) patients with melanoma and 299 (2.1%) with at least one nonmelanoma skin cancer by TBSE. In 195 (1.3%) patients equivocal lesions found by TBSE turned out to be benign. We calculated that 47 patients need to be examined by TBSE to find one skin malignancy and 400 patients to detect one melanoma. The risk of missing one malignancy if not performing TBSE was 2.17% (95% confidence interval 1.25-3.74). Factors significantly increasing the chance to find a skin cancer were age, male gender, previous nonmelanoma skin cancer, fair skin type, skin tumor as the reason for consultation, and presence of an equivocal lesion on problem/uncovered areas., Limitations: The impact of TBSE on skin cancer mortality was not evaluated., Conclusions: TBSE improves skin cancer detection in patients with focused skin symptoms and shows a low rate of false-positive results., (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cutaneous melanoma incidences vary between geographic regions and are a health concern for Caucasians and for all ethnic populations. In Latin America, data from population-based cancer registries of cutaneous melanoma incidence rates have rarely been reported. We searched the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents volume IX (CI5-IX) database for cutaneous melanoma and select cases by topography (C43) from 11 population-based cancer registries in Latin America. Between 1998 and 2002, a total of 4,465 cutaneous melanoma cases were reported in Latin America. The average age-standardized incidence rates (per 100,000 persons-year) was 4.6 (male) and 4.3 (female). This study presents an overview of cutaneous melanoma incidence in Latin America, highlighting the need to enhance coverage of population-based cancer registries in Latin America, to allow for a better understanding of this neoplasm in the region. Thus it can help in implementing primary prevention programs for the whole Latino population. At this point in time, early detection messages should target young women and older men in Latin America.

Cancer registration data plays a major role in the design and monitoring of cancer control activities and policies, and population-based cancer registries (PBCR) are the main source of information. In developed countries, the healthcare infrastructure enables the registration of quality cancer data. In low and middle Income countries (LMIC), where health care facilities are limited or scarce, cancer registration data may be of low quality. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the value of cancer incidence data for LMIC, even when quality is questionable, as well as to attempt to interpret the messages that the quality indicators convey both for cancer registration and the healthcare system. The study of data submitted to the Cancer incidence in five continents, volume nine (CI5-IX) leads to the conclusion that when PBCR from LMIC cannot provide good quality data it may indicate a deficiency that goes above and beyond the registrar ability. The quality control indicators evaluated provide insight on local conditions for cancer diagnosis and care. Low data quality not only signals lack of collaboration among reporting sources and the inability of the registrar to perform quality abstracting, but also points to specific weaknesses of the cancer care system and can guide improvement goals and efforts.

Primary oral melanoma (POM) is a rare form of melanoma, generally diagnosed at a late stage and has poor prognosis. Epidemiological information has scarcely been reported in the literature over the past 40 years. Analyzing the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents volume IX (CI5-IX) database we found a total of 124,436 oral cavity cancers reported from all population-based cancer registries and 319 cases of POM reported by 67 cancer registries. To our knowledge this is the largest number of POM cases analyzed and accounts for 0.26% of all oral cavity cancers. ASR(W) for POM do not exceed 0.01 per 100,000 persons-year in all regions. The most common anatomic sites were palate (47%) and gum (27.6%) and a detailed oral mucosa examination and biopsies of nodular or macular lesions in these sites, especially on elderly patients, is advised to be routinely performed.