A retrospective cohort study of melanoma prevalence stratified by body site in a Regional Australian Population 1994-2017: Site-specific protective mechanisms.

Background: Australia has the highest incidence of cutaneous melanoma worldwide. Previous studies have identified some body areas (forearms and dorsal hands) have lower rates of melanoma than expected when compared with other similarly exposed areas, leading to the suggestion that endogenous immunological protective mechanisms in certain body sites may exist.

Aims And Methods: We hypothesise that examination of melanoma by body site in a regional Australian setting would demonstrate no significant variation in the incidence of melanoma across highly sun exposed areas including the head and neck and upper limbs.

Queensland tick typhus in rural New South Wales.

We report five cases of Rickettsia australis infection from southern coastal New South Wales, Australia. All patients presented with a cutaneous eruption of erythematous papules and pustules and systemic features of malaise, headache, lymphadenopathy and myalgia. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was present in two of five cases and one of five cases had acute delirium.

Cryptococcosis presenting as upper limb cellulitis and ulceration: a case series.

We report four cases of cryptococcosis presenting as upper limb cellulitis or ulceration, or both. Three of the four patients were on long-term prednisolone therapy at the time of presentation. In each case, the diagnosis of cryptococcosis was established by a biopsy of the skin.

Porphyria cutanea tarda in south-east New South Wales.

Thirteen patients with porphyria cutanea tarda diagnosed between 1994 and 2000 were reviewed to evaluate the precipitating factors and associations of porphyria cutanea tarda in a regional area of coastal and rural NSW. The majority had more than one precipitating factor, with excess alcohol intake, mutations in the haemochromatosis gene, chronic hepatitis C infection and oestrogen therapy being the most common. Antibodies to the hepatitis C virus were detected in 25% and these patients presented at a younger age.