Breslow density ability to predict melanoma survival: should it be used in clinical practice?

Background: Breslow density (BD) is an estimation of melanoma volume, which has emerged as a novel histopathological prognostic biomarker.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of BD as a predictor of patients' survival and assess its prognostic value in relation to overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS).

Methods: A retrospective observational study in a cohort of 107 patients with invasive melanoma was conducted.

Tumour budding as a risk factor for lymph node metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Current staging systems have limitations in stratifying high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Tumour budding (TB) has emerged as a potential prognostic factor in various cancers.

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic significance of TB in predicting lymph node metastases (NM) in cSCC.

Reconstruction of plantar surgical defects with synthetic dermal matrix and split-thickness skin grafts: A case series and functional podiatry outcomes.

Reconstruction of surgical defects after wide local excision of acral melanoma on the sole should allow patients to walk and bear weight. Moreover, certain options such as local transposition flaps can compromise follow-up. We present a case series of surgical defects on weight-bearing areas of the sole reconstructed using a synthetic dermal matrix and a split-thickness skin graft.

Did COVID-19 lockdown delay actually worsen melanoma prognosis?

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown possibly meant a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and therefore, worsening its prognosis. This unique situation of diagnosis deferral is an exceptional opportunity to investigate melanoma biology.

Objectives: To evaluate the immediate and mid-term impact of diagnosis delay on melanoma.

Machine Learning Techniques in Predicting BRAF Mutation Status in Cutaneous Melanoma From Clinical and Histopathologic Features.

Melanoma is the cutaneous neoplasm responsible for more patient deaths in all countries. BRAF mutations are the most common driver mutation and with the development of molecular targeted therapy, the precise knowledge of BRAF status has become increasingly important. Evaluation of BRAF mutation status has routinely been performed by polymerase chain reaction, a time consuming and expensive technique.

Is it just a psoriasiform dermatitis?

Bazex syndrome (BS) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome most frequently associated with squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tractand other tumours. Characteristically, cutaneous lesions precede the diagnosis of malignancy. We report a 72-year-old patient with 1-year history of acral dermatitis.

Tolerability and effectiveness of liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy with very short freeze times in the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum.

Xanthelasma are cholesterol-filled, soft, yellow plaques that usually appear on the medial aspects of the eyelids bilaterally. They are always benign lesions so therapy is usually undertaken only for cosmetic reasons. Surgical excision, chemical peeling with tricholoroacetic acid, and laser ablation are commonly used treatments.