Publications by authors named "Luc Thomas"
Dermoscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique that significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing skin disorders [...
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- Diagnosing acral melanocytic lesions, like acral nevi and melanoma, can be difficult, and the BRAAFF checklist was developed to assist in this process but hasn't been validated yet.
- In a study, varying experts diagnosed images of nevi and melanomas using the BRAAFF checklist online, yielding a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 65.0%, comparable to traditional pattern recognition.
- The checklist showed varying levels of agreement among raters based on experience, and a simplified version achieved similar sensitivity with slightly lower specificity, suggesting that the BRAAFF checklist is a helpful but not superior diagnostic tool.
Objective: Multiple techniques are available for closing skin defects, such as skin grafts, flaps and tissue expansion. The tissue extender MID SEW (MID, France) was developed to achieve dermatotraction or suture reinforcement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this innovative silicone extender for large surgical wounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A common terminology for diagnosis is critically important for clinical communication, education, research and artificial intelligence. Prevailing lexicons are limited in fully representing skin neoplasms.
Objectives: To achieve expert consensus on diagnostic terms for skin neoplasms and their hierarchical mapping.
Article Synopsis
- The umbilicus, located in the center of the abdomen, can host various lesions, but there is limited knowledge about how these lesions appear under dermoscopy.
- This study aimed to compile existing research on the dermoscopic features of umbilical lesions, examining 34 studies that met specific criteria and analyzed a total of 39 different lesions.
- The results suggest that dermoscopy is a useful, non-invasive tool for differentiating umbilical lesions, but the study also highlights issues like inconsistent terminology and low quality of evidence among the included studies.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the characteristics and dermatoscopic features of cutaneous metastases (CMs) from various primary tumors, highlighting the challenge of diagnosing them.
- A total of 583 patients were analyzed, with melanomas being the most common primary tumors, and a significant portion of the metastases was found in the head and neck region.
- The findings suggest that pigmented melanoma metastases often appear as structureless blue lesions, while amelanotic metastases display linear serpentine vessels; both types can be confused with other skin lesions.
Article Synopsis
- Melanonychia striata longitudinalis affects fingers and toes with causes ranging from benign conditions to malignant tumors, making diagnosis complex.
- Nail matrix melanoma is rare, typically affecting adults and primarily occurs in the first toe or thumb, while squamous cell carcinoma of the nail matrix often lacks pigmentation.
- A systematic diagnostic approach, involving factors like age, number of nails involved, and color, is recommended to accurately assess and differentiate the specific causes of this condition.
Background: Lentigo maligna/lentigo maligna melanoma (LM/LMM) is usually diagnosed in older patients, when lesions are larger. However, it is important to detect it at an earlier stage to minimize the area for surgical procedure.
Objectives: To determine and define clinical, dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features of LM/LMM in patients < 50 years old.
Article Synopsis
- Dermoscopy is valuable for detecting melanoma, but experts often disagree on important features.
- This study examined the agreement among 25 expert dermatologists on 248 dermoscopic images, focusing on specific melanocytic features and their locations.
- Results showed good-to-excellent agreement for 14 out of 31 features, especially for melanoma-specific characteristics, and all images are publicly available for educational and research purposes.
Article Synopsis
- Nail diseases are often diagnosed late, impacting prognosis and function, partly due to primary care physicians' (PCPs) knowledge gaps.
- A study evaluated French PCPs' knowledge on nail conditions before and after a 31-minute online training session, involving 10 clinical cases.
- Results showed improved recognition of the need for dermatologist referrals and reduced inappropriate treatments after training, although gaps in knowledge about amelanotic melanoma persisted.
Introduction: Melanoma of the lentigo maligna (LM) type is challenging. There is lack of consensus on the optimal diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
Objectives: To obtain general consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for LM.
Introduction: Melanoma on the head/neck area can show subtle clinical, dermoscopic and histologic features at early stages, being difficult to differentiate from junctional nevi.
Objectives: This case series aims to raise awareness on the topic of misdiagnosis of early lentigo maligna as junctional nevi.
Methods: From the databases of three pigmented lesion clinics in Italy, Australia, and France, we retrieved all cases of lesions of the head/neck area with an initial histopathologic diagnosis of junctional nevus (JN) or dysplastic junctional nevus (DJN) which subsequently recurred and were ultimately diagnosed as melanoma.
Stardust Pattern as Evolution of Pigmented Spitz Nevi During Childhood.
Dermatol Pract Concept
January 2023
Introduction: Spitz nevi (SN) are benign melanocytic proliferations frequently occurring in children. Some pigmented SN with a starburst pattern evolve into the "stardust" one, which is characterized by a central, black to gray, hyperpigmented area and remnants of a brown network at the periphery. These dermoscopy changes are often the first alert to induce excision.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo test a novel instrumented knee brace intended for use as a rehabilitation system, based on inertial measurement units (IMU) to monitor home-based exercises, the device was compared to the gold standard of motion analysis. The purpose was to validate a new calibration method through functional tasks and assessed the value of adding magnetometers for motion analysis. Thirteen healthy young adults performed a 60-second gait test at a comfortable walking speed on a treadmill.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: In patients with multiple nevi, sequential imaging using total body skin photography (TBSP) coupled with digital dermoscopy (DD) documentation reduces unnecessary excisions and improves the early detection of melanoma. Correct patient selection is essential for optimizing the efficacy of this diagnostic approach.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify, via expert consensus, the best indications for TBSP and DD follow-up.
Dermoscopy of haemosiderotic/aneurysmal dermatofibroma: A morphological study of 110 cases.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
February 2023
Background: Haemosiderotic and aneurysmal dermatofibromas are uncommon and frequently misdiagnosed lesions, which can be considered as different histopathological stages of the same tumour. A dermoscopic diagnosis testing accuracy has not been performed for these tumours to date.
Objectives: To determine the diagnostic significance of dermoscopic structures and patterns associated with haemosiderotic/ aneurysmal dermatofibromas in a large series.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the prognostic value of regression in primary melanomas, focusing on the differences between "hot" and "cold" tumor stromas.
- The analysis of 40 patients over 14 years reveals that dermoscopic features correlate with the stage of regression and survival outcomes.
- Specific characteristics, like color patterns and histological regression types, are linked to patient prognosis, indicating that some regression types are associated with better outcomes while others predict melanoma-related death.
Background: Congenital nail matrix nevi (NMN) are difficult to diagnose because they feature clinical characteristics suggestive of adult subungual melanoma. Nail matrix biopsy is difficult to perform, especially in children.
Objective: To describe the initial clinical and dermatoscopic features of NMN appearing at birth (congenital) or after birth but before the age of 5 years (congenital-type).
Purpose: The randomized phase III coBRIM study (NCT01689519) demonstrated improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with addition of cobimetinib to vemurafenib compared with vemurafenib in patients with previously untreated BRAFV600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma. We report long-term follow-up of coBRIM, with at least 5 years since the last patient was randomized.
Patients And Methods: Eligible patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either oral cobimetinib (60 mg once daily on days 1-21 in each 28-day cycle) or placebo in combination with oral vemurafenib (960 mg twice daily).