Background: Prior studies describe wide local excision and "slow Mohs" outcomes for periocular melanoma. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) with immunohistochemistry maximizes tissue preservation and offers same-day comprehensive margin evaluation, which facilitates expedited repair, and coordination of oculoplastic reconstruction when necessary.
Objective: To describe oncologic and reconstructive outcomes of invasive periocular cutaneous melanoma treated with immunohistochemistry-assisted MMS.
Background: Mohs micrographic surgery with melanocytic immunohistochemistry (MMS-I) is increasingly utilized for special site melanoma treatment. Yet, frequency and risk factors associated with upstaging of all-stage cutaneous melanomas treated with MMS-I remain undefined.
Objective: Determine upstaging frequency and factors associated with tumor upstaging for all-stage melanomas treated with MMS-I.
Background: Bier anemic spots, cyanosis with urticaria-like eruption (BASCULE) syndrome is a recently described entity with episodic urticarial lesions and white anemic halos on a background of erythrocyanosis, commonly affecting the lower extremities. Possible association with autonomic dysfunction remains poorly understood. Existing publications are limited, but the condition is suggested as highly underrecognized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutations of the BRAF oncogene occur in both melanomas and several other cancers. Our objective was to determine if mutant BRAF V600E expression in a population-based cohort of patients with melanoma was associated with the development of a second primary malignancy of any type. Using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we retrospectively identified 380 patients aged 18 to 60 years who were diagnosed with an incident melanoma from 1970 through 2009.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Few studies support treating morphea (localized scleroderma) with hydroxychloroquine.
Objective: To assess the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine treatment of morphea.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 84 patients who had morphea and were treated with hydroxychloroquine monotherapy for at least 6 months at our institution from 1996 through 2013.
Premature graying of hair (PGH) is defined as graying of hair before the age of 20 years in Caucasians and before 30 years in African American population. It can severely affect the self-esteem of an individual. The exact etiopathogenesis remains unknown, although it has been associated with premature aging disorders, atopy, and autoimmune diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently revolutionized cancer treatment, providing unprecedented clinical benefits. However, primary or acquired therapy resistance can affect up to two-thirds of patients receiving ICIs, underscoring the urgency to elucidate the mechanisms of treatment resistance and to design more effective therapeutic strategies. Conventional cancer treatments, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy, have immunomodulatory effects in addition to direct cancer cell-killing activities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe concept of exploiting the immune system to treat cancer forms the basis of immuno-oncology. Since its birth in the late 1800s, immuno-oncology, or cancer immunotherapy, has come a long way. With better understanding of the complex relationship between tumor and the immune system, we have been able to explore and develop various modalities of anticancer therapies.
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