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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
 69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The dysplastic melanocytic nevus (DMN) is the key clinical marker for the familial dysplastic nevus syndrome and has also been associated with high risk for non-familial melanoma. Characterisations of DMN itself have been qualitative and on a case-by-case basis. In this study, we provided clinical and histological characterisations for each of 150 pigmented lesions from 150 patients with prior malignant melanoma. The steps involved in the study were as follows: (1) The two to four clinicians characterised pigmented lesions on each of 150 patients, and the lesion closest in characteristics to an atypical nevus was quantitatively described based on size, border characteristics and colour characteristics; (2) The lesion was then removed and independently quantified by a single dermatopathologist without knowledge of the clinical features; (3) We computed the correlation between each of the clinical variables and each of the histologic features for each of the 150 patients. Histologic diagnosis of dysplastic nevus was strongly associated with total number of palpable arm nevi, total number of any arm nevi, total number of nevi on the body of any type, and total number of clinically atypical nevi on the body (correlation coefficients 23.2% to 30.4% with P less than 0.01 in each instance). There were also strong correlations between the counts of numbers of nevi and certain types of architectural histologic features, including fusion (bridging of junctional nests), lymphocyte response and fibroplasia of the papillary dermis. Histologic evaluation of solar elastosis was negatively correlated with total numbers of nevi and total number of clinically atypical nevi (P less than 0.01). Freckling on forearm and on shoulders showed no significant positive or negative correlations with any of the histologic features nor with overall diagnosis of dysplastic nevus. We conclude that observations regarding total numbers of nevi (either normal or clinically atypical nevi) are correlated with nuclear and architectural histologic dysplasia on biopsy of the most atypical pigmented lesions.
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PMID:Correlation of clinical pigmentary characteristics with histopathologically-confirmed dysplastic nevi in nonfamilial melanoma patients. Studies of melanocytic nevi IX. 193 21

As the incidence of melanoma continues to increase, so does the role of the dermatologist as both medical and surgical oncologist for these patients, especially those with stage I disease. The dermatologist holds a key role in all phases of care, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The dermatologist is best trained to complete a full and thorough skin examination and is best able to recognize a melanoma at its earliest stages of radial growth. In large part because of advances in dermatology, the dysplastic nevus syndrome has been identified as an important marker and precursor lesion for melanoma; the dermatologist has the best knowledge base for the recognition and management of both sporadic and familial dysplastic nevi. Dermatologists also have the unique opportunity (by virtue of their patient population concerned with skin problems) to prevent melanoma through patient education concerning sun protection, self-examinations, and the ABCDs of melanoma recognition. The dermatologist is well trained to obtain an appropriate, full-thickness skin biopsy specimen and is also knowledgeable to interpret the pathologist's report, understanding the significance of the various histologic prognostic indices. Because of the changing trends in excisional margin size and fewer recommendations for ELND, the dermatologist is becoming more active in the surgical management of melanoma patients. In the MDMC, the dermatologist was clearly recognized as a capable surgeon to perform the wide local excisions for stage I patients. Almost one half of the patients seen (49%) were surgically treated in the department of dermatology. Of group I patients, 78% were treated by dermatologists. The dermatologist as surgeon should be capable of performing a wide local excision to the level of deep subcutaneous tissue or muscle fascia with an appropriate primary layered closure, local flap, or graft. Our experience confirms that the majority of patients present with local disease and a thin Breslow depth and thus can be skillfully treated in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia by a dermatologic surgeon. In follow-up, the dermatologist should provide continuity of care and should be knowledgeable in appropriate interval examinations and tests. The dermatologist is thoroughly skilled at the cutaneous examination and has the knowledge base to perform a careful and competent lymph node examination. As primary medical oncologist to these patients, the dermatologist needs to recognize stage II and stage III disease and be able to comprehensively discuss with the patient the options for treatment and how they affect their prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Changing trends in melanoma treatment and the expanding role of the dermatologist. 193 41

To evaluate the hypothesis that reactivity of the intradermal component of melanocytic nevi to the monoclonal antibody HMB-45 correlates with melanoma risk, dysplastic compound melanocytic nevi were examined for expression of the HMB-45 epitope in three subject groups differing in epidemiological risk for melanoma. The study groups consisted of 10 subjects with dysplastic nevi and a personal history of melanoma, 25 subjects with dysplastic nevi and a history of melanoma in one or more first degree relatives, and 15 population control subjects with sporadic dysplastic nevi. For each case, sections from one lesion, immunohistochemically processed for HMB-45 binding, were evaluated by two pathologists without knowledge of the clinical data. Of all dysplastic nevi, 98% showed diffusely positive cytoplasmic staining of the junctional nevomelanocytes and 90% had such positive staining of those cells within the superficial dermis. Nevus cells within the deeper dermis did not stain positively in any case. Furthermore, the data showed no differences in frequency, pattern, or intensity of HMB-45 reactivity between the subject groups. These observations indicate that evaluation of dysplastic nevi with the monoclonal antibody HMB-45, an apparent marker of proliferative or otherwise stimulated melanocytes, has no discriminating value for identifying subjects at increased historical risk for melanoma. The data, however, support the concept that so-called dysplasia within nevi, as defined by histologic criteria, actually represents the active or proliferative phase of melanocytic nevi.
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PMID:HMB-45 staining of dysplastic melanocytic nevi in melanoma risk groups. 193 84

HMB-45 is generally thought of as a melanoma specific antibody; however, there are certain exceptions. It is known that most dermal nevi show no reactivity; however, the dermal nevus component within dysplastic nevi and certain Spitz nevi show positive reactivity. In order to further examine this observation, we undertook a study to examine blue nevi, both common and cellular, for the expression of HMB-45. Cases were stained with antibodies directed at both HMB-45 and S100 protein. Of 16 common blue nevi studied, 14 were positive with HMB-45, as were 6 of 6 cellular blue nevi. Staining for HMB-45 was quite variable in intensity amongst cases labelled common blue nevi. In contrast, cellular blue nevi were uniformly strongly positive. It is therefore concluded that blue nevi, including cellular blue nevi, exhibit an activated phenotype as demonstrated by HMB-45 reactivity.
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PMID:Analysis of HMB-45 immunoreactivity in common and cellular blue nevi. 193 85

The histopathologic features of 120 cases of pigmented spindled nevus (PSCN) from the years 1973 through 1988 were reviewed from a consultative practice heavily weighted with difficult nevomelanocytic lesions. The patients' mean age was 25.2 years, and females outnumbered males (68 versus 52). Extremity lesions made up 69.6% of the total, with the thigh the most common site. The lesions were categorized into one of four variants of PSCN, based on the presence or absence of various architectural and cytologic parameters and involvement of the reticular dermis. Thirteen cases (10.8%) were designated typical PSCN, and were characterized by fascicles of uniform pigmented spindle cells without cellular atypia and limited to the epidermis or papillary dermis. Ninety-five cases (79.2%) were classified as atypical PSCN (PSCN with architectural and/or cytologic atypia). Some of the latter also demonstrated substantial numbers of epithelioid cells, thus exhibiting some overlap with Spitz nevus. Eight cases showed striking features of dysplastic nevus. Ten cases had fascicles of pigmented spindle cells involving the reticular dermis ("plexiform" PSCN). Two cases were designated as combined PSCN because of the presence of banal nevus cells in addition to the spindle cell component. Clinical follow-up of a small group of patients has not suggested, to date, any aggressive behavior. Knowledge of PSCN and its atypical variants is important for discrimination from malignant melanoma.
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PMID:The histologic spectrum of pigmented spindle cell nevus: a review of 120 cases with emphasis on atypical variants. 198 78

The authors reviewed 874 dermatology charts to assess the acceptance rate of total skin examination (TSE), incidental skin findings, and patient compliance regarding treatment recommendations. Of the 874 new dermatology patients studied, 707 (80.9%) agreed to TSE. Important incidental findings were found in 151 (21.4%). These included: (1) biopsy specimen-confirmed malignant tumors (malignant melanoma, lentigo maligna, and basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma) in 24 of the 707 patients (3.4%), (2) biopsy specimen-confirmed premalignant tumors (actinic keratosis with dysplasia, Bowenoid actinic keratosis, Bowenoid papulosis, and lentigo with dysplasia, in five (0.7%), (3) clinically diagnosed premalignant actinic keratosis in 64 (9.1%), (4) biopsy specimen-confirmed dysplastic nevi in 17 (2.4%), and (5) congenital nevi in 41 (5.8%). Only 4.2% of the patients returned for a yearly TSE, and only 6.0% were found to follow all recommendations for monthly self examination, yearly professional examination, and sun protection. It is concluded that TSE for all new patients, and on a yearly basis for all return patients, is valuable in the detection of many skin conditions and allows skin cancer screening to be done, since patients for the most part do not follow recommendations for at-home screening.
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PMID:Yield from total skin examination and effectiveness of skin cancer awareness program. Findings in 874 new dermatology patients. 198 18

DNA repair capacity of 18 fibroblast strains from patients with dysplastic nevus syndrome, 5 of them with malignant melanoma, was investigated and their colony-forming ability (D0) after UV exposure was determined as a measurement of this. Seventeen fibroblast strains from normal donors served as controls. The dose/response experiments included up to 11 dose levels and two UV wavelength ranges: UV-C (using a low-pressure mercury lamp emitting predominantly 254-nm light) and UV-B (artificial "sunlamp" radiation centering around 312-nm light). The exponential segments of the dose/response curves were analysed by linear regression and the negative reciprocals of the regression coefficients, D0, were calculated for each cell strain and each wavelength range. When comparing D0 values of individual cell strains from patients with and without melanomas with the mean value for all normal donors, only 4 out of 18 showed increased sensitivity towards UV-B. This difference, however, was not statistically significant. On the contrary, weighted-mean D0 values for fibroblast strains from patients with and without melanoma were found to be slightly but significantly higher than those for normal donors (significance level: 5%), indicating that cell strains from these patients were less sensitive to UV light (UV-C and UV-B) of both wavelength. This result, which on the basis of current literature data is somewhat unexpected, holds true within the limits of experimental accuracy of +/- 12%.
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PMID:Fibroblasts derived from patients with dysplastic nevus syndrome are not more sensitive towards 254-nm and 312-nm ultraviolet light than fibroblasts from normal donors. 199 74

The dysplastic nevus (DN) is the most important risk factor and precursor for malignant melanoma. The authors compared the responses of 132 consecutive cases of DN, 186 consecutive cases of cutaneous melanoma, and 239 controls attending the same subspecialty clinic to questions regarding sun sensitivity, sun exposure, and other possible risk factors. Dysplastic nevus cases were younger than controls and were of a higher social class, as indicated by more years of formal education. Sun sensitivity (assessed by reported depth of tan after multiple exposures) was associated with both DN risk and melanoma risk after controlling for age and education in logistic regression analysis (P = 0.009 and 0.03, respectively), but for DN risk this association was nonlinear: the relative risks (versus deep tan) were 2.3 for average tanners, 2.8 for light tanners, and 1.6 for those who reported practically no tan. Sun exposure measures were not associated with DN risk after controlling for age and education, whether or not depth of tan was controlled in the analysis. These observations suggest a role for either sunlight or a trait linked with sun sensitivity in the development of dysplastic nevi.
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PMID:Sunlight and dysplastic nevus risk. Results of a clinic-based case-control study. 200 61

The histopathologic criteria used in the diagnosis of dysplastic nevi have been a source of controversy, as has the clinical significance of these lesions. Several dermatopathologists noted for their work on dysplastic nevi were asked to contribute responses to questions regarding the architectural and cytological criteria used to classify a melanocytic nevus as dysplastic, the terminology used to describe these lesions, and the role of dysplastic nevi as precursors of melanoma. Although no consensus has been reached regarding the cytologic features required for diagnosis of dysplastic nevi, there is substantial agreement regarding the architectural features of these lesions.
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PMID:The histopathology of dysplastic nevi. Continued controversy. 200 47

Although skin cancer screening is theoretically of value, its effectiveness has not been firmly established because few studies have systematically followed persons with a positive screen to obtain pathologically confirmed diagnoses. From the 799 persons screened at Charleston Area Medical Center in 1988 and 1989, 153 screenees with suspected skin cancer, dysplastic nevi, and congenital nevi were followed to determine their final diagnosis. Follow-up was done by letter and telephone calls to both the individuals who screened positive and their treating physicians. Eighty-four (54 percent) then sought medical attention as a result of letters and calls. Thirty-one basal cell carcinomas, three squamous cell carcinomas, three dysplastic nevi, two melanomas, and one congenital nevus were pathologically confirmed. The predictive value positive of the screenings was 32 percent to 60 percent for non-melanoma skin cancer, 9 percent to 25 percent for dysplastic nevi, and 15 percent for melanoma. This study suggests that post-screening follow-up of those with suspected premalignant and malignant skin lesions is feasible and should be encouraged so that more definitive evaluation and treatment can potentially be performed and skin cancer screenings more accurately assessed.
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PMID:Preliminary results of skin cancer screening in West Virginia. 200 60


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