Desmoplastic melanoma presenting as primary alopecia neoplastica: a report of two cases.

Desmoplastic melanoma is an uncommon form of melanoma characterized by atypical spindled melanocytes and abundant collagen deposition. It typically presents in sun-damaged skin of the elderly as an amelanotic, indurated lesion. It has a higher tendency for local recurrence but lower risk of lymph node metastasis vs.

Combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bevacizumab improves pathologic complete response in patients with hormone receptor negative operable or locally advanced breast cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the pathologic complete response (pCR) and safety of bevacizumab (B) with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting of breast cancer (BC).

Methods: A prospective single-arm, single-institution phase II trial for women with stage IIA-B/IIIA-B-C BC. Patients received neoadjuvant docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, B every 3 weeks for 4 cycles followed by doxorubicin every 3 weeks for 4 cycles followed by surgery.

Sensitivity of axillary specimen x-ray to predict nodal count and positivity.

Background: The number of examined axillary lymph nodes (ALN) has been proposed as an indicator of prognosis along with quality and adequacy in breast cancer surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of imaging axillary specimens with x-ray (lymphogram) to determine the number of lymph nodes. We sought to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a lymphogram in identifying nodal positivity.

Oncologic safety of nipple skin-sparing or total skin-sparing mastectomies with immediate reconstruction.

Background: Success with skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) has led to the reconsideration of the necessity to remove the skin overlying the nipple-areola complex. The aim of our study was to compare complications and local recurrence in patients undergoing SSM and total skin-sparing mastectomy (TSSM) with immediate reconstruction.

Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective study involved patients who underwent mastectomy with reconstruction (1998 to 2010).

Axillary reverse mapping (ARM): a new concept to identify and enhance lymphatic preservation.

Background: Variations in arm lymphatic drainage put the arm lymphatics at risk for disruption during axillary lymph node surgery. Mapping the drainage of the arm with blue dye (axillary reverse mapping, ARM) decreases the likelihood of disruption of lymphatics and subsequent lymphedema.

Methods: This institutional review board (IRB)-approved study from May to October 2006 involved patients undergoing SLNB and/or ALND.

Intraoperative touch preparation for sentinel lymph node biopsy: a 4-year experience.

Background: The optimal technique for intraoperative pathologic examination of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) is still controversial. Recent small series report sensitivity between 60% and 100% for various techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate our long-term experience with touch preparation cytology (TPC) and frozen section (FS) in the intraoperative examination of SLNs for breast cancer.