The diagnostic value and histologic correlate of distinct patterns of shiny white streaks for the diagnosis of melanoma: A retrospective, case-control study.

Background: Shiny white streaks (SWSs) are best visualized with polarized dermoscopy and correlate with dermal fibroplasia histopathologically. SWSs have been described at higher frequencies in melanomas than in benign nevi.

Objective: We assessed the diagnostic value of different patterns of SWSs and their histologic correlate in melanocytic lesions.

Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Associated with Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Inhibitors, Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers and Thiazides: A Matched Cohort Study.

Introduction: Controversy exists about an association between angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), and thiazides (TZs) and the risk of malignant melanoma (MM), and non-melanoma skin cancer-basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if an association exists for ACEI, ARB, or TZ exposure and skin cancers.

Methods: This was a matched cohort study using a large electronic medical records repository, the Northwestern Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse (NMEDW).

Development and validation of a noninvasive 2-gene molecular assay for cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Clinical and histopathologic assessment of pigmented skin lesions remains challenging even for experts. Differentiated and accurate noninvasive diagnostic modalities are highly desirable.

Objective: We sought to provide clinicians with such a tool.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Melanoma, Version 3.2016.

The NCCN Guidelines for Melanoma have been significantly revised over the past few years in response to emerging data on a number of novel agents and treatment regimens. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the data and rationale supporting extensive changes to the recommendations for systemic therapy in patients with metastatic or unresectable melanoma.

Early Detection of New Melanomas by Patients With Melanoma and Their Partners Using a Structured Skin Self-examination Skills Training Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: More than 1 million patients with melanoma in the United States are at risk to develop a second primary melanoma. Early detection of melanoma improves survival. Patients with melanoma may be able to self-manage care with their skin-check partners ("partners") and alert the physician when a concerning lesion is identified, thus providing an important adjunct to yearly skin examinations by a physician.

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.

National Evaluation of Hospital Performance on the New Commission on Cancer Melanoma Quality Measures.

Introduction: To increase adherence to cancer management guidelines, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) developed and approved five melanoma quality measures in 2015. Our objectives were to evaluate formally the national performance of these melanoma measures and to examine patient, tumor, and hospital characteristics associated with adherence.

Methods: From the National Cancer Data Base (2012), patients with invasive, nonmetastatic melanoma were identified.

Melanoma, Version 2.2016, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Melanoma focuses on adjuvant therapy and treatment of in-transit disease, because substantial changes were made to the recommendations for the 2016 update. Depending on the stage of the disease, options for adjuvant therapy now include biochemotherapy and high-dose ipilimumab. Treatment options for in-transit disease now include intralesional injection with talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), a new immunotherapy.

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.

Comparison of Efficacy of Differing Partner-Assisted Skin Examination Interventions for Melanoma Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Early detection of melanoma may improve survival. The present study continued research establishing that in-person training on skin self-examinations (SSEs) was significantly enhanced when delivered to patients with their partners present instead of to patients alone.

Objective: To examine 3 alternative SSE training approaches that included partners compared with a treatment-as-usual control condition.

Enhanced fidelity of an educational intervention on skin self-examination through surveillance and standardization.

Background: Melanoma can metastasize but is often successfully treated when discovered in an early stage. Melanoma patients and their skin check partners can learn skin self-examination (SSE) skills and these skills can be improved by practice. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree of fidelity with which educational in-person SSE intervention can be delivered by trained research coordinators to patients at risk of developing another melanoma and their skin check partners.

Melanoma, version 4.2014.

The NCCN Guidelines for Melanoma provide multidisciplinary recommendations for the management of patients with melanoma. These NCCN Guidelines Insights highlight notable recent updates. Dabrafenib and trametinib, either as monotherapy (category 1) or combination therapy, have been added as systemic options for patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma harboring BRAF V600 mutations.

Skin self-examination education for early detection of melanoma: a randomized controlled trial of Internet, workbook, and in-person interventions.

Background: Early detection of melanoma improves survival. Since many melanoma patients and their spouses seek the care of a physician after discovering their melanoma, an ongoing study will determine the efficacy of teaching at-risk melanoma patients and their skin check partner how to conduct skin self-examinations (SSEs). Internet-based health behavior interventions have proven efficacious in creating behavior change in patients to better prevent, detect, or cope with their health issues.

A 10-year, single-institution analysis of clinicopathologic features and sentinel lymph node biopsy in thin melanomas.

Background: The 2009 American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria for thin cutaneous melanomas recommend staging sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) for select stage IB tumors. SLNB in this population remains controversial because of low rates of node positivity and inconsistent prognostic parameters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between multiple clinicopathologic features and SLNB result, and clinical outcome.

Melanoma, version 2.2013: featured updates to the NCCN guidelines.

The NCCN Guidelines for Melanoma provide multidisciplinary recommendations on the clinical management of patients with melanoma. This NCCN Guidelines Insights report highlights notable recent updates. Foremost of these is the exciting addition of the novel agents ipilimumab and vemurafenib for treatment of advanced melanoma.

Melanoma simulation model: promoting opportunistic screening and patient counseling.

Importance: Lack of training hampers melanoma recognition by physicians.

Objective: To evaluate a melanoma simulation model to teach visual assessment and counseling skills.

Design And Setting: Simulation model study in an academic research setting.

Melanoma opportunistic surveillance by physician assistant and medical students: analysis of a novel educational trainer.

Purpose: The objective was to identify first-year physician assistant (PA) students' and third-year medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about melanoma and to assess an educational intervention.

Methods: Thirty first-year PA students and 29 third-year medical students (M3) at Northwestern University completed a questionnaire on participants' views of barriers and facilitators to performing melanoma screening. The students were given a pretest with a melanoma education model trainer to identify suspicious lesions, and following an educational intervention, students were given a posttest model trainer assessment.