Cutaneous Carcinoma (cutaneous + carcinoma)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A reappraisal of the histologic findings of pigmented pretibial patches of diabetes mellitus

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2004
Gregory M. Houck
Background:, Pigmented pretibial patches (PPPs) are the most common cutaneous alterations in diabetes mellitus, found in up to 50% of diabetic patients. They classically present as flat-topped, dull-red papules on the pretibial areas, later becoming hyperpigmented and atrophic. Little is known regarding the pathogenesis of these lesions, and the histopathologic findings have been regarded as non-specific. Methods:, We investigated the clinical and pathologic attributes of a series of 12 diabetic patients with PPP in an effort to discern any specific histologic attributes compared to normal skin removed from diabetic patients with cutaneous carcinoma. Results:, All cases of PPP showed hyaline microangiopathy, all patients showed extravasated erythrocytes and/or hemosiderin deposits, and 10 patients showed an appreciable number of perivascular plasma cells. The average number of plasma cells per vascular plexus was 2.2. Control specimens removed from five diabetic patients showed hyaline microangiopathy, and three showed extravasated erythrocytes and hemosiderin. One patient showed a single vascular plexus with two plasma cells, p = 0.01. Conclusion:, The presence of increased dermal perivascular plasma cells in the appropriate clinical context might be an important and under-recognized clue for PPP. The pathogenic significance of this finding is unknown. [source]


Skin cancer in liver transplant recipients

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2000
Clark C. Otley
Skin cancer is the most common malignancy arising in the posttransplantation setting. Multiple factors contribute to the high risk for cutaneous carcinoma in immunosuppressed organ-transplant recipients. We review the phenomenon of skin cancer in solid-organ transplant recipients and further delineate the problem in the context of liver transplantation. Skin cancer is a significant medical and surgical problem for organ-transplant recipients. With prolonged allograft function and patient survival, the majority of solid-organ transplant recipients will eventually develop skin cancer. Although squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cutaneous malignancy in this population, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma, as well as uncommon skin malignancies, may occur. Highly susceptible patients may develop hundreds of squamous cell carcinomas, which may be life threatening. Management strategies focus on regular full-skin and nodal examination, aggressive treatment of established malignancies, and prophylactic measures to reduce the risk for additional photodamage and malignant transformation. Skin cancer is a substantial cause of morbidity and even mortality among solid-organ transplant recipients. As a byproduct of immunosuppression, liver transplant recipients experience a high incidence of skin cancer and should be educated and managed accordingly. [source]


A retrospective review of 1349 cases of sebaceous carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 1 2009
Tina Dasgupta MD
Abstract BACKGROUD: Sebaceous carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cutaneous carcinoma. It is believed that this malignancy predominates in the periocular region and occurs more frequently in Asian populations and in women. The objective of the current study was to analyze demographic characteristics and outcomes for patients with this malignancy from a large United States-based population registry. METHODS: An analysis of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1973 through 2004 was performed. RESULTS: Of 1349 patients who were identified, 54% were men, 86.2% were white, and 5.5% were of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. The median age at diagnosis was 73 years. The most frequent site of disease was the eyelid (38.7%). The population-matched 5- and 10-year age-matched relative survival rate was 91.9% (standard error [SE], 1.9%) and 79.2% (SE, 3.7%), respectively. Cause of death was attributable to cancer in 31% of patients. Orbital involvement did not predict for worsened survival compared with nonorbital involvement (5-year overall survival, 75.2% vs 68%, respectively; P = .66). The overall population-matched rate of sebaceous carcinoma was highest in whites (2.03 cases per 1000,000; SE, 0.08) versus Asian/Pacific Islanders (1.07 per 1000,000; SE, 0.18; P = .0001) versus blacks (0.48 per 1000,000; SE, 0.11; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The current results support the finding of a predominance of men among patients with sebaceous carcinoma, and no difference was observed in the prognosis for orbital and periorbital involvement. This retrospective analysis also corroborated previous case reports of a higher incidence among patients with advanced age and the highest incidence for sites in the eyelid and skin of the face. The results also established that Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry is not a risk factor for developing sebaceous carcinoma. Cancer 2009. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source]


Radiation-induced cutaneous carcinoma of the head and neck: is there an early role for p53 mutations?

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
A. Franchi
Summary Background., Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying ionizing radiation-induced carcinogenesis of the skin. Aims., To investigate the possible role of p53 in radiodermatitis and in the development of radiation-induced cutaneous carcinomas. Methods., The study group comprised six patients affected by cutaneous carcinomas arising in radiodermatitis (one squamous cell carcinoma and five basal cell carcinomas), and seven patients presenting only chronic radiodermatitis. Skin specimens were evaluated for p53 immunohistochemical expression. Using laser-assisted microdissection, areas with different p53 immunoreactivity were separately submitted to DNA isolation and p53 gene analysis. Results., In the majority of cases (9/12, 75%), p53 immunoreactivity was detected in radiation-damaged epidermis. In carcinomas p53 oncoprotein was expressed by several neoplastic cells in one case (16.7%%), or by nearly all neoplastic cells in four (66.7%). SSCP band shifts were detected in 9/25 samples (36%) microdissected from irradiated epidermis and in 3/6 (50%) carcinomas. DNA sequencing demonstrated two repeatedly found mutations: a G deletion at codon 244 and an A,G transition at codon 205, as well as hallmarks of ultraviolet mutagenic action, including a C,T transition occurring at a dipyrimidine site and a CC,TT tandem double-base transition. Conclusion., Our data indicate that irradiation induces significant p53 alterations that may be relevant in the modification of epithelial maturation processes and may be responsible for the high risk for development of carcinomas in radiodermatitis. [source]


Value of p63 and podoplanin (D2-40) immunoreactivity in the distinction between primary cutaneous tumors and adenocarcinomas metastatic to the skin: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 79 cases

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Jose A. Plaza
The distinction of metastatic carcinomas to the skin from poorly differentiated primary cutaneous carcinomas and sometimes primary benign adnexal tumors can pose a significant diagnostic challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of p63 and podoplanin (D2-40) immunoreactivity for separating primary skin tumors vs. cutaneous metastases of carcinomas from internal organs. Thirty seven primary tumors and 42 cutaneous metastatic adenocarcinomas were evaluated. The 37 primary cutaneous tumors included 14 cases of benign adnexal tumors, 9 malignant skin adnexal neoplasms, and 14 primary squamous and basal cell carcinomas. The 42 metastatic adenocarcinomas all corresponded to metastases from patients with a well-documented history of a primary tumor at another location. We found variable positivity with podoplanin in all primary cutaneous neoplasms including spiradenoma (6/6), hidradenoma (2/4), cylindroma (3/3), desmoplastic trichilemmoma (1/1), poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (4/4), sebaceous carcinoma (1/1), basal cell carcinoma (4/10), trichilemmal carcinoma (2/2), eccrine carcinoma (3/3), microcystic adnexal carcinoma (1/1), adnexal carcinoma NOS (1/1), and porocarcinoma (1/1). In contrast, all metastatic carcinomas were negative (0/42) for podoplanin. In regards to p63, all cases of primary cutaneous tumors were positive for p63 (37/37); in contrast, all cutaneous metastatic carcinomas were negative (0/42). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of podoplanin and p63 immunoreactivity to separate primary skin neoplasms from metastatic carcinomas were 78.4, 100.0, 100.0 and 84.0% for podoplanin, respectively, and 100.0, 100.0, 100.0 and 100.0% for p63, respectively. The differences in p63 and podoplanin immunohistochemical expression between primary skin tumors and metastatic carcinomas to the skin were statistically significant (p < 0, 0001). The results of our study suggest that the combined expression of p63 and podoplanin are a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of skin tumors in the clinical setting of a questionable metastasis and may be relatively specific for distinguishing primary skin tumors from metastatic carcinomas to the skin. Plaza JA, Ortega PF, Stockman DL, Suster S. Value of p63 and podoplanin (D2-40) immunoreactivity in the distinction between primary cutaneous tumors and adenocarcinomas metastatic to the skin: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 79 cases. [source]


Radiation-induced cutaneous carcinoma of the head and neck: is there an early role for p53 mutations?

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
A. Franchi
Summary Background., Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying ionizing radiation-induced carcinogenesis of the skin. Aims., To investigate the possible role of p53 in radiodermatitis and in the development of radiation-induced cutaneous carcinomas. Methods., The study group comprised six patients affected by cutaneous carcinomas arising in radiodermatitis (one squamous cell carcinoma and five basal cell carcinomas), and seven patients presenting only chronic radiodermatitis. Skin specimens were evaluated for p53 immunohistochemical expression. Using laser-assisted microdissection, areas with different p53 immunoreactivity were separately submitted to DNA isolation and p53 gene analysis. Results., In the majority of cases (9/12, 75%), p53 immunoreactivity was detected in radiation-damaged epidermis. In carcinomas p53 oncoprotein was expressed by several neoplastic cells in one case (16.7%%), or by nearly all neoplastic cells in four (66.7%). SSCP band shifts were detected in 9/25 samples (36%) microdissected from irradiated epidermis and in 3/6 (50%) carcinomas. DNA sequencing demonstrated two repeatedly found mutations: a G deletion at codon 244 and an A,G transition at codon 205, as well as hallmarks of ultraviolet mutagenic action, including a C,T transition occurring at a dipyrimidine site and a CC,TT tandem double-base transition. Conclusion., Our data indicate that irradiation induces significant p53 alterations that may be relevant in the modification of epithelial maturation processes and may be responsible for the high risk for development of carcinomas in radiodermatitis. [source]