Treatment of traumatic hypertrophic scars and keloids: a systematic review of randomized control trials.

Exaggerated healing and remodeling after skin injury may cause hypertrophic and keloidal scars, which are associated with functional and quality of life impairment. There is limited guidance available regarding the relative effectiveness of therapies for hypertrophic scars and keloids. In this review, we aim to compare the effectiveness of treatments for hypertrophic scars and keloids.

Paediatric melanoma: clinical update, genetic basis, and advances in diagnosis.

Paediatric melanoma is rare and challenging to diagnose. The three subtypes are Spitzoid melanoma, melanoma arising in a congenital melanocytic nevus, and conventional (also known as adult-type) melanoma. Spitzoid melanomas have characteristic histopathological and genomic aberrations.

Distinct Patterns of Acral Melanoma Based on Site and Relative Sun Exposure.

Acral melanoma is distinct from melanoma of other cutaneous sites, yet there is considerable variation within this category. To better define this variation, we assessed melanomas occurring on dorsal (n = 21), volar (n = 9), and subungual/interdigital (n = 13) acral skin as well as acral nevi (n = 24) for clinical, histologic, and molecular features. Melanomas on dorsal acral surfaces demonstrated clear differences compared with volar and subungual/interdigital melanomas.

Malignant melanoma of sun-protected sites: a review of clinical, histological, and molecular features.

In most cases of cutaneous melanoma, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is recognized as a prominent risk factor. Less is known regarding the mechanisms of mutagenesis for melanoma arising in sun-protected sites, such as acral and mucosal melanoma. Acral and mucosal melanoma share many common features, including a late age of onset, a broad radial growth phase with prominent lentiginous growth, the presence of field cancerization cells, and, in most cases, lack of a precursor nevus.

A clinical, histologic, and follow-up study of genital melanosis in men and women.

Background: Genital melanosis may clinically mimic melanoma. Little is known about the potential risk for genital and nongenital melanoma in these patients.

Objective: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed clinical and histologic data from patients with genital melanosis to better characterize these lesions and the risk they confer for genital and nongenital melanoma.

A Comparison of Morphologic and Molecular Features of BRAF, ALK, and NTRK1 Fusion Spitzoid Neoplasms.

Recent studies have identified translocations involving the kinase domains of ALK, NTRK1, BRAF, RET, and ROS in spitzoid neoplasms. Subsequent studies have also characterized morphologic features corresponding to ALK and NTRK1 translocations. In this study, we sought to further compare morphologic features across a range of 49 genetically defined spitzoid neoplasms with ALK, NTRK1, BRAF, or RET fusions to determine discriminating features.

Atypical Spitzoid Neoplasms in Childhood: A Molecular and Outcome Study.

The natural history of atypical Spitz neoplasms remains poorly understood, resulting in significant patient and clinician anxiety. We sought to better characterize outcomes that correlated with molecular features by performing a prospective cohort study of pediatric atypical spitzoid neoplasms in which fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were obtained for diagnosis. Cases with sufficient tissue underwent additional retrospective assessment for translocations in ALK, NTRK1, BRAF, RET, and ROS1.

Evaluation of dermoscopic features for distinguishing melanoma from special site nevi of the breast.

Background: Nevi of special sites display aberrant clinical and histologic features that can be difficult to distinguish from melanoma, leading to unnecessarily high rates of excision with poor cosmetic or functional results. Dermoscopy can improve clinical assessment of melanocytic lesions by visualizing morphologic structures beyond the epidermis.

Objective: We sought to assess the value of specific dermoscopic features for diagnosing melanocytic neoplasms arising on the breast area in females.

Nonoverlapping Clinical and Mutational Patterns in Melanomas from the Female Genital Tract and Atypical Genital Nevi.

Genital melanomas (GM) are the second most common cancer of the female external genitalia and may be confused with atypical genital nevi (AGN), which exhibit atypical histological features but have benign behavior. In this study, we compared the clinical, histological, and molecular features of 19 GM and 25 AGN. We described chromosomal copy number aberrations and the mutational status of 50 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in both groups.

The utility of dermoscopy-guided histologic sectioning for the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions: A case-control study.

Background: Dermoscopy allows for visualization of morphologic structures beyond the epidermis, including features that may indicate early malignant transformation. However, dermoscopic features are rarely considered during routine histologic sectioning, and areas of clinical concern may be missed during microscopic evaluation.

Objective: We assessed the diagnostic impact of a dermoscopy-guided micropunch score for the evaluation of melanocytic lesions.

A comparative study of proliferative activity and tumor stage of pregnancy-associated melanoma (PAM) and non-PAM in gestational age women.

Background: The influence of pregnancy on the development, progression, and prognosis of melanoma is controversial.

Objective: We sought to compare clinical characteristics, histologic features, and proliferative activity in pregnancy-associated melanoma (PAM) and melanoma in nonpregnant women of reproductive age (non-PAM).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed medical records and pathology reports from women given a diagnosis of melanoma between 2006 and 2015.

Morphologic clues and utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization for the diagnosis of nevoid melanoma.

Background: Nevoid melanomas include melanomas with a low power silhouette similar to melanocytic nevi. However, at higher power magnification, nevoid melanoma may have severe nuclear atypia and dermal mitoses.

Methods: We performed a clinical, pathological and molecular study on a series of 58 examples of nevoid melanoma, excluding cases with spitzoid morphology.

Immunosuppression is an independent prognostic factor associated with aggressive tumor behavior in cutaneous melanoma.

Background: A number of factors other than those identified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) may have prognostic significance in the evaluation of melanoma.

Objective: We sought to evaluate commonly recorded clinical features potentially associated with aggressive melanoma.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study.