Non-pigmented Lesion Research Articles

CLINICAL CASE OF KERATOACANTHOMA

Keratoacanthoma is a common, rapidly growing skin tumour that has long been considered benign due to its staged course and ability to spontaneously regress. However, according to the latest World Health Organization classification, keratoacanthoma is classified as a well-differentiated form of squamous cell carcinoma.
 Despite its long history keratoacanthoma remains a subject of controversy with regard to epidemiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
 The etiology and pathogenesis of keratoacanthoma are also not clearly defined. However, a number of factors have been identified that are highly likely to lead to the development of a tumour. In particular, these are ultraviolet and X-ray radiation, thermal and traumatic injuries, chemical carcinogens, genetic and immunological predictors, human papillomaviruses and certain drugs (sorafenib, infliximab, etc.).
 Clinically, keratoacanthoma appears on the skin as a single or multiple crater-like nodule. Dermoscopy can be used for early diagnosis and differentiation from other tumour formations. The choice of therapy varies widely and depends on the location, stage of development, and size of the tumour.
 The publication presents a number of cases which demonstrate the clinical, dermoscopic, and histological picture of keratoacanthomas.
 Case presentation. Patient A, 44 years old, skin with signs of photodamage. A single dense nodule, up to 0.5 cm in diameter, on the anterior surface of the right lower leg. It appeared and grew rapidly over the past month.
 Dermoscopy with photographic fixation was performed. A non-pigmented dome-shaped lesion with central yellow-brown keratinous masses, sporadic haemorrhages, and white structureless areas was observed. The vascular pattern was represented by looped, glomerular and helical vessels in a radial arrangement. The lesion was surgically excised. A pathohistological study was carried out. The conclusion was a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
 In typical cases, the diagnosis of keratoacanthoma is not difficult. However, the combination with other skin lesions can distort the clinical picture. For example, in Patient B, keratoacanthoma developed against the background of seborrheic keratosis. In such cases, the use of dermoscopy can provide additional clues to the diagnosis and, accordingly, influence treatment methods.
 Considering keratoacanthoma as a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, surgical excision is preferred. The metastatic potential of this tumour is not significant, but in high-risk areas such as the lip or ear, it can reach 30%. At the same time, surgery reduces the risk of local recurrence. Other approaches include electrodissection and curettage, cryodestruction, intratumoural administration of methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, and photodynamic therapy. These methods are appropriate in cases where the size or location of the tumour do not allow achieving the desired aesthetic effect.
 Conclusions: 1. Keratoacanthoma is a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with a low potential for metastasis. 2. Central yellow-brown keratinous masses, sporadic haemorrhages, white structureless areas, in combination with looped and glomerular vessels in radial disposition seen during dermoscopy of a nodule, may be a sign of keratoacanthoma. 3. The choice of treatment method for keratoacanthoma depends on its location and size; surgical excision of the tumour should be preferred.

Choroidal Melanoma in an Asymptomatic Patient

Introduction Choroidal melanoma is considered the most common intraocular malignancy found in adults and typically presents without symptoms in the early stages. They are frequently first seen on routine dilated fundoscopic exams and appear as a pigmented or nonpigmented choroidal lesion. Case Presentation A 58-year-old Caucasian female presented for a comprehensive eye exam with a chief complaint of gradual distance blur in both eyes. On funduscopic examination of the right eye, a suspicious faint, variably pigmented large choroidal lesion was noted adjacent to the optic nerve. The patient was referred to a retinal oncologist for further workup and management. Management and Outcome The retinal oncologist performed multiple imaging tests including B-scan ultrasound, OCT, and Fundus Autofluorescence which revealed a choroidal mass with subretinal fluid, and presence of lipofuscin confirming a diagnosis of a small choroidal melanoma. Systemic workup did not reveal any metastasis of the choroidal lesion. The patient was initially treated surgically with plaque radiotherapy; however, the patient developed ocular complications ultimately leading to enucleation of the right eye. Consequently, the patient was fitted with an ocular prosthesis. Discussion Choroidal melanomas are the most common intraocular malignancy found in adults and encompass 80% of all uveal melanomas. Patients with choroidal melanoma are typically asymptomatic and are commonly first seen on routine dilated fundoscopic exams. Metastasis of choroidal melanomas are rare but can occur in 1-2% of all cases mainly to the liver, bone, and lung. A 50% mortality rate in a 10-year span has been noted for metastasized choroidal melanomas. Ancillary imaging modalities such as Optical coherence tomography, Fundus Autofluorescence, and B-scan ultrasound are useful in aiding in the diagnosis. Treatment and management are modified based on the characteristics of the tumor and patient, which can include brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, and enucleation. Timely detection and treatment are key in managing this sight and life-threatening illness CE Notification This article is available as a COPE accredited CE course. You may take this course for 1-hour credit. Read the article and take the qualifying test to earn your credit. Click here to Enroll (https://www.crojournal.com/choroidal-melanoma-in-an-asymptomatic-patient) Please check COPE course expiry date prior to enrollment. The COPE course test must be taken before the course expiry date.

Histologic response of in-transit melanoma to topical DPCP: A case report

Diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) is a modulator of CD8+ T-cell response, as well as Th17 response, that has shown positive treatment responses when applied topically to in-transit melanoma.1 We report a 48-year-old female who presented with a 10 week history of a multifocal non-pigmented lesion of the posterior lower leg. Multiple punch biopsies of the lesions showed melanoma (T2N2cM0, stage IIIb) primarily in the dermis, Breslow depth 1.0 mm, with some junctional involvement and focal pagetoid spread.

Treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma: balancing disease eradication with minimising treatment-induced morbidity

A 41-year-old male presented with a large non-pigmented lesion on the ocular surface involving 8 clock hours of limbus, bulbar conjunctiva, and palpebral conjunctiva. Incisional biopsy confirmed poorly differentiated conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It was staged as a T3, N0, M0 lesion. Treatment was with surgical excision, amniotic membrane transplant, and buccal mucosa graft. Three weekly cycles of 0.04% mitomycin C were administered postoperatively. Six months following excision, although there was no evidence of residual conjunctival SCC, the patient suffered from poor vision, significant pain, and diplopia due to severe dry eye, limbal stem cell deficiency, and symblepharon.This case illustrates the difficult clinical decisions which confront the clinician when treating conjunctival SCC, particularly with balancing the need to eradicate the disease to prevent local invasion and metastatic spread on the one hand and minimising ocular morbidity on the other.

Dermoscopy of Keratoacanthoma Centrifugum Marginatum.

Dermoscopy of Keratoacanthoma Centrifugum Marginatum.

A case of desmoplastic melanoma that was difficult to distinguish from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

The clinical and pathological diagnosis of desmoplastic melanoma is difficult, because almost 50% of desmoplastic melanoma cases involve non-pigmented lesions and the tumor cells can resemble fibroblasts or Schwannian cells based on their frequent amelanotic features. Moreover, desmoplastic melanoma typically has low positive rates for melanoma markers, with the exception of the S-100 protein. We report the case of an 81-year-old Japanese man with an 8-mm desmoplastic melanoma. He initially noticed a painless and non-pigmented skin lesion that did not grow noticeably for 6months. It was unlikely that he had von Recklinghausen disease, and the mass was initially considered a dermatofibroma. Excisional biopsy revealed an intradermal mass, with the superficial portion mimicking neurofibroma and the deeper portion exhibiting nodular growth of sarcomatoid spindle cells. The tumor region lacked intradermal proliferation of atypical melanocytic cells, intracytoplasmic melanin, and expression of melanoma markers (except S-100 protein and Sox10). Although a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor derived from neurofibroma was possible, the slow growth with diffuse and strong immunoreactivity to the S-100 protein and Sox10 favored a diagnosis of desmoplastic melanoma. Pathologists should recognize that desmoplastic melanoma may not involve in situ lesions or the immunohistochemical expression of standard melanoma markers.

A retrospective clinical analysis of 5 cases of vaginal melanoma

Vaginal melanoma is a rare tumor, accounting for <1% of all melanomas and ~1-5% of all vaginal malignant tumors. The prognosis of vaginal melanoma is extremely poor, as it is often resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and metastases may develop in the early stages of the disease. The present study investigated 5 patients with vaginal melanoma treated at the Department of Gynecology of Osaka City University Hospital (Osaka, Japan) between October, 2000 and April, 2014. All the cases presented with abnormal genital bleeding as the main complaint. Notably, in 3 of the 5 cases the tumors appeared as non-pigmented polyps. Local resection was performed as the primary treatment in all 5 cases. After surgery, dermal injection of interferon β (feron maintenance therapy) was performed in 3 cases, and dacarbazine, nimustine, vincristine and interferon β (DAVFeron therapy) was administered in 1 case as adjuvant therapy. All 5 cases recurred within 1 year. The site of recurrence varied, and included the vaginal wall, liver, brain and lung. The median overall survival was 419 days and the median progression-free survival 177 days. In this cohort, all the cases presented with abnormal genital bleeding as the main complaint. Therefore, malignant melanoma of the vagina must be considered along with other gynecological malignancies in patients with abnormal genital bleeding. In this study, over half of the cases had a non-pigmented polypoid lesion of the vagina. Therefore, malignant melanoma of the vagina must be considered when a polypoid lesion is identified on the vaginal wall.

First description of the dermatoscopic features of acquired elastotic hemangioma-a case report.

We present a case of acquired elastotic hemangioma (AEH), a rare, benign vascular tumor. A Caucasian male in his 60s presented with an asymptomatic, solitary, non-pigmented and violaceous lesion of short duration on the dorsum of his hand. The lesion had unique clinical, dermatoscopic and pathological features. Dermatoscopic images of the lesion are presented for characterization and histopathological correlation that have not previously been published or described.

Torpedo maculopathy: Two case reports and a literature review

Case reportsThe cases concern a 4 year-old boy and 25 year-old female with 20/20 visual acuity, who presented with a unilateral non-pigmented macular lesion, temporal to the fovea, a torpedo shaped defect in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Optical coherence tomography showed attenuation of the RPE signal, and in the second patient there proved to be a neurosensory detachment, RPE atrophy, and thinning of the retinal layers. The lesion was hypoautofluorescent and hyperfluorescent on fluorescein angiography. DiscussionTorpedo maculopathy is an asymptomatic characteristic lesion which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of macular lesions in children and young patients.

Primary malignant melanoma of aryepiglottic fold

Background: Primary malignant melanoma rarely arises from noncutaneous tissues that contain melanocytes. Head and neck mucosal melanomas account for 0.7% to 3.8% of all melanomas. Here we report a case of primary malignant melanoma of aryepiglottic fold.Result: Here we reported a case of primary malignant melanoma of aryepiglottic fold.Conclusion: Primary aryepiglottic fold melanoma is an exceptionally rare neoplasm with early distant metastases and aggressive fatal course. Early diagnosis and proper line of treatment are crucial for survival. Physicians should keep a high index of suspicion for diagnosis of this rare tumor especially in old age with pigmented or non-pigmented lesion in larynx.

Maculopatía en torpedo: presentación de 2 casos clínicos y revisión de la literatura

Case reportsThe cases concern a 4 year-old boy and 25 year-old female with 20/20 visual acuity, who presented with a unilateral non-pigmented macular lesion, temporal to the fovea, a torpedo shaped defect in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Optical coherence tomography showed attenuation of the RPE signal, and in the second patient there proved to be a neurosensory detachment, RPE atrophy, and thinning of the retinal layers. The lesion was hypoautofluorescent and hyperfluorescent on fluorescein angiography. DiscussionTorpedo maculopathy is an asymptomatic characteristic lesion which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of macular lesions in children and young patients.

Prediction without Pigment: a decision algorithm for non-pigmented skin malignancy

While there are several published comprehensive stepwise algorithmic methods for diagnosing pigmented skin malignancy, only limited material has been published for the stepwise assessment of non-pigmented lesions. We present a method based on pattern analysis, with a stepwise assessment, first, for ulceration, second, for white clues (defined as white lines, or in the case of a raised lesion any of the keratin clues: dermatoscopic white circles, dermatoscopic white structureless areas or surface keratin), and third, if no ulceration or white clues are present, proceed to vessel pattern analysis.This is a novel method, and apart from the assessment of white clues in raised lesions, it has not been formally tested. The priority of keratin clues in raised lesions over vessel pattern analysis has, however, been verified.It is conceded that this method is less specific than methods which have clues of pigmented structures, and accepting these limitations, Prediction without Pigment is a decision algorithm intended to guide the clinician in the decision as to whether to perform a biopsy rather than consistently leading to a specific diagnosis. Reaching a more specific diagnosis at the end of our flowchart can be achieved by weighing of clues both clinical and dermatoscopic, and that ability can be expected to improve with both knowledge and experience, but no diagnostic method, including this one, can be 100% sensitive in diagnosing malignancy, in particular, melanoma. Taking these limitations into account, any non-pigmented lesion, regardless of pattern analysis, which is raised and firm (nodular) and for which a confident, specific benign diagnosis cannot be made, should be excised to exclude the nodular variant of amelanotic melanoma.

Non-pigmented melanoma with nodal metastases masquerading as pyogenic granuloma in a 1-year old

Malignant melanomas are the most common skin cancer in the pediatric population. Melanoma incidence is extremely low in infants, and metastatic disease is even less common. We present the case of an 11-month-old girl who presented with a non-pigmented lesion that progressed to an ulcerated lesion. Pathology was found to be Spitzoid melanoma of 7.6-mm thickness. Micrometastases were found on examination of the sentinel lymph node. The family chose expectant observation following the excision procedure. A pediatric melanoma registry may be helpful in developing future analyses of incidence in survival in this specialized population.

Spitz Nevi

Controversy exists regarding strategies for diagnosis and management of Spitz nevi, a type of melanocytic neoplasm that most often develops in children. To determine the beliefs, behaviors, and experiences of pediatric dermatologists with regard to Spitz nevi. Anonymous web-based survey. Private and academic dermatology practices. Respondents included 175 pediatric dermatologists from the United States and around the world, representing a 51.1% response rate (175 of 342). Analyses were limited to the 144 respondents whose practices included at least 50% children (younger than 18 years). Assessment of the following with regard to Spitz nevi: frequency of diagnosis, general beliefs, techniques used for evaluation (eg, dermoscopy and biopsy), management strategies, and observed outcomes. Collectively, respondents had seen approximately 20 000 Spitz nevi; 67.6% (96 of 142) had diagnosed at least 6 Spitz nevi yearly, whereas 90.1% (128 of 142) had diagnosed no more than 2 prepubertal melanomas in the past 5 years. Ninety-six percent of respondents (95.8%; 136 of 142) categorized typical Spitz nevi as benign. Eighty percent of respondents (79.6%; 113 of 142) used dermatoscopy, and 96.5% (137 of 142) avoided partial biopsies of Spitz nevi. In children with a suspected Spitz nevus, clinical follow-up was chosen by 49.3% (69 of 140) of respondents for a small, stable nonpigmented lesion and by 29.7% (41 of 138) for a pigmented lesion with a typical starburst pattern seen via dermatoscopy. Predictors of clinical follow-up of the latter lesion included believing that Spitz nevi are not melanoma precursors (P = .04). Forty-seven percent (62 of 132) of respondents had observed involution of Spitz nevi. No deaths had resulted from the approximately 10 000 Spitz nevi or atypical spitzoid neoplasms seen by the 91 respondents with academic or hospital-based practices. The results of our survey support conservative management of Spitz nevi in children, with clinical follow-up representing an option for typical lesions. This represents an important difference from strategies used for management of these lesions in adults.

Amelanotic melanoma: a detailed morphologic analysis with clinicopathologic correlation of 75 cases

Amelanotic melanoma can have a varied appearance both clinically and microscopically. Here, we present our experiences with 75 cases of amelanotic melanoma defined clinically as a non-pigmented lesion and histopathologically as a tumor lacking significant melanization. We evaluated microscopic features such as morphology, mitotic count, nuclear atypia and presence of solar elastosis. Our amelanotic melanomas exhibited the following morphology: epitheloid (72%), spindled (18.7%) or desmoplastic (5.3%). In addition, we obtained patient information and clinical presentations on most of the cases (74/75; 98.7%) and follow-up data on 40% (30/75) of the cases. The majority of amelanotic melanomas in men were found on the trunk (13/45; 29%), head and neck (12/45; 26.7%), and lower limb (13/45; 29%) and in women were found on the lower limb (12/30; 40%), upper limb (10/30; 33.3%) and head and neck (6/30; 20%). In addition, we found that an increase in mitotic index correlated with worse survival (p < 0.026), whereas there were no differences in survival for other pathological features, such as nuclear atypia or solar elastosis. Furthermore, in cases with available tissue, all amelanotic melanoma expressed microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase, suggesting that the tumor cells retained melanocytic lineage and an enzyme in melanin formation, respectively. As the occurrence of amelanotic melanoma and the expression melanoma markers were similar to pigmented melanoma, we favor that amelanotic melanoma represents a subtype of melanoma rather than poorly differentiated or de-differentiated melanoma.

Primary cutaneous carcinosarcoma: Dermoscopic and immunohistochemical features

A 73-year-old man presented a 9-month history of an enlarging nodule on his right temple. Dermoscopy revealed a non-pigmented lesion with ulceration, fibrosis and pale globules. An excisional biopsy was carried out and histology showed a biphasic tumour with a basal cell carcinoma like epithelial component and a dermal undifferentiated sarcoma, with pleomorphic spindle cells and numerous osteoclast-like giant cells. Based on immunohistochemistry findings, a diagnosis of primary cutaneous carcinosarcoma was made and the patient underwent wide local excision.

Presumed metastasis of choroidal melanoma to the contralateral choroid.

To report a case of choroidal melanoma metastasizing to contralateral choroid along with systemic metastasis. This is a retrospective study of a case of a 52-year-old man who was found to have a choroidal lesion in the left eye temporal to fovea. The ultrasound and angiographic findings were suggestive of choroidal melanoma, which prompted enucleation of the eye. After approximately 74 months, the patient noticed decreased vision in the contralateral (right) eye. Examination revealed a nonpigmented mass lesion approximately two disk diameters in size superotemporal to fovea, and the patient was found to have multiple secondary tumors in the abdomen and liver. The development of choroidal metastases from a contralateral choroidal melanoma is of ophthalmic interest and seems to be unique.

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy in the Daily Practice

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) allows noninvasive imaging of the epidermis and superficial dermis. Like dermoscopy, RCM acquires images in the horizontal plane (en face), allowing assessment of tissue pathology underlying dermoscopic structures of interest at a cellular-level resolution. Thus, clinicians using dermoscopy may find RCM to be particularly useful. Our aim was to show the value of RCM for diagnosis and management decisions related to pigmented and nonpigmented skin neoplasms seen in daily practice. Six cases of clinically and dermoscopically equivocal skin lesions, for which RCM facilitated making the correct diagnosis, are presented. Final diagnoses were made based on histopathologic analysis. Three flat pigmented skin lesions with dermoscopic signs of regression showed distinct RCM features that allowed their correct classification as pigmented basal cell carcinoma, pigmented actinic keratosis, and melanoma on sun-damaged skin. A flat nonpigmented skin lesion on the face, which did not show distinct clinical or dermoscopic features, was correctly diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma based on RCM findings. In addition, the response of a pigmented actinic keratosis and a melanoma in situ on sun-damaged skin to noninvasive topical treatment was monitored using RCM. RCM is a promising and practical imaging tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of pigmented and nonpigmented skin lesions.

Unusual Occurrence of a Melanoma with Intermixed Epithelial Component: A True Melanocarcinoma?: Case Report and Review of Epithelial Differentiation in Melanoma by Light Microscopy and Immunohistochemistry

We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with a nonpigmented lesion on the right scalp. Histological examination showed a malignant nodular neoplasm with 2 distinct but intimately admixed components: a malignant melanoma with a spindle component and an unusual glandular component. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated epithelial differentiation on the basis of cytokeratin (CAM5.2 and AE1/AE3) expression in the glandular component and melanocytic differentiation (HMB-45, PNL2, MITF, and S-100) of the spindle cell component. A single melanocytic marker (MITF) was expressed in both components, raising the possibility of dual differentiation in a single tumor, rather than the alternative considerations of a collision tumor or a reactive pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with eccrine duct lumen formation within a melanoma. This unusual tumor with both melanocytic and epithelial components may represent a true melanocarcinoma, which becomes a plausible consideration, in view of melanoma plasticity and recent experimental evidence and speculation about the role of stem cells in melanoma.

Histologic study of peritoneal endometriosis in infertile women

The present study included 118 patients undergoing a laparoscopy for infertility. In 86 patients with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis (group I), biopsies were taken from areas of apparent endometriosis (n = 86) and from a visually normal peritoneum (n = 52). Histology reveals the presence of endometriosis in 93% of positive sites and in 13% of negative sites. In 32 patients without endometriosis at laparoscopy (group II), biopsies were taken from normal uterosacral ligaments (n = 32). Endometriosis was observed in 6% of cases. Despite the increased ability to detect pigmented and nonpigmented endometriotic lesion, histological study revealed the presence of endometriosis in normal peritoneum in 13% (group I) and 6% (group II) of cases.