A 3-year-old boy presented with bluish patch and scattered blue spots on the left side of his face. After several sessions of laser treatment, the azury patch in the periorbital area became even darker. Histopathology showed many bipolar, pigment-laden dendritic cells scattered in the papillary and upper reticular dermis. Immunohistochemically, these cells were positive for S100, SOX-10, melan-A, P16, and HMB-45. The positive rate of Ki-67 was less than 5%. Finally, the lesion was diagnosed with nevus of Ota concurrent with common blue nevus. Therefore, for cases of the nevus of Ota with poor response to laser treatment, the possible coexisting diseases should be suspected.
Male ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Nevus, Blue/pathology* ; Nevus of Ota/therapy* ; Skin/pathology* ; Face ; Skin Neoplasms/pathology*

Chronic inflammatory responses have long been observed to be associated with various types of cancer and play decisive roles at different stages of cancer development. Inflammasomes, which are potent inducers of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 during inflammation, are large protein complexes typically consisting of a Nod-like receptor (NLR), the adapter protein ASC, and Caspase-1. During malignant transformation or cancer therapy, the inflammasomes are postulated to become activated in response to danger signals arising from the tumors or from therapy-induced damage to the tumor or healthy tissue. The activation of inflammasomes plays diverse and sometimes contrasting roles in cancer promotion and therapy depending on the specific context. Here we summarize the role of different inflammasome complexes in cancer progression and therapy. Inflammasome components and pathways may provide novel targets to treat certain types of cancer; however, using such agents should be cautiously evaluated due to the complex roles that inflammasomes and pro-inflammatory cytokines play in immunity.
Animals ; Carcinoma ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; metabolism ; Melanoma ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Skin Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy

The evaluation of pigmentary skin lesions by clinical doctors has been based on subjective and qualitative judgements. Observations have mostly relied on visual inspection, making the effects of treatment difficult to evaluate with any precision. For this reason there is a real need for an objective method to evaluate prognosis after treatment. Recent scientific measurements such as reflectance spectrophotometry and reflectance colorimetry have provided accurate quantitative color information about skin lesions, but these techniques are costly and difficult to apply in the clinical field. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and cost-effective way of evaluating treatment results. We have developed a software program using the L*a*b* color coordinate system to quantify the effect of treatment and have successfully demonstrated its clinical usefulness. Our method compares the relative color difference between normal skin and skin lesions before and after treatment, instead of measuring the absolute color of skin lesions. The accuracy of our quantitative color analysis was confirmed by the simulated images of hemangioma and ota nevus. Clinical efficacy was also confirmed through a blind test involving 3 clinicians who were asked to grade the treatment effects of 13 cases of hemangioma and 7 cases of ota nevus. These subjective clinical grades correlated well with the treatment results obtained using the proposed color analysis system (Correlation coefficient = 0.84).
Color* ; Female ; Hemangioma/therapy ; Hemangioma/pathology ; Human ; Nevus of Ota/therapy ; Nevus of Ota/pathology ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)/methods* ; Pigmentation Disorders/therapy* ; Pigmentation Disorders/pathology* ; Skin Neoplasms/therapy ; Skin Neoplasms/pathology ; Skin Pigmentation* ; Software*

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features, diagnosis and therapy of hydroa vacciniforme-like cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinical presentations and the findings of laboratory examinations and skin biopsy of affected tissue in a child with hydroa vacciniforme-like cutaneous T cell lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThe child manifested as rash, fever and lymph node intumesce. Rash was pantomorphia, including edematous erythema, vesicles, crusts, necrosis and depressed scar, and it was mild in winter and severe in summer, mainly involving in the face and extremities. Epstein-Barre virus (EBV)-IgM was positive. Histopathological findings revealed focal lymphocyte invasion in subcutaneous panniculus adiposus, mainly surrounding the blood vessels. Immunohistochemistry showed CD3 (+), CD43 (+), CD20 (-), pax-5 (-), TIA (+), CD5 (+), CD8 (+), Granmye (+) and CD4 (-). The clinical symptoms were improved after glucocorticoid treatment in this child.

CONCLUSIONSHydroa vacciniforme-like cutaneous T cell lymphoma has special clinical manifestations. This disorder may be definitely diagnosed by skin biopsy of affected tissue and immunohistochemistry assay. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective. EBV infection may be related to the development of this disorder.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroa Vacciniforme ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Skin ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical characteristics of sinonasal malignant melanoma and curative effect of the combined modality therapy. METHOD: Clinical data of 6 cases with sinonasal malignant melanoma was retrospectively analyzed. All patients received surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. In addition, 3 cases received postoperative chemotherapy which scheme was CDBT and bioimmunotherapy consisted of INF-α and IL-2 after surgery, of which, 2 cases received one cycle of preoperative chemotherapy. RESULT: Six cases were followed up. The survival time ranged from 15 months to 98 months. The average survival time was 62.7 months. Analyzed by direct method, the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 83% and 67% respectively. Three cases which received the combined modality therapy, of whch, 2 cases received preoperative chemotherapy have survived by now. CONCLUSION The combined modality therapy should be adopted in case of sinonasal malignant melanoma with operation indication. For the patients who can not be operated recently Postbiopsy, it was beneficial to improve the efficacy of therapy that one cycle of preoperative chemotherapy and bioimmunotherapy should be implemented.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-2 ; therapeutic use ; Melanoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of angiosarcoma of the head and face.

METHODSThe data of 15 patients with angiosarcoma of the head and face underwent treatment between January 1993 and January 2003 were reviewed. Of 15 cases 10 were men and 5 women; 11 tumors in scalp and 4 in face; 6 cases of stage I, 3 cases of stage II, 1 case of stage III and 5 cases of stage IV. Clinical symptoms included a focal mass or bruiselike patches. Surgery alone in 5 cases, chemotherapy alone in 3 cases, comprehensive treatment in 5 cases, no treatment in 2 cases. Immunohistochemical staining with CD31, CD34 and FVIIIRag was performed in 8 cases.

RESULTSFollow-up time was 3-240 months with a median of 28 months. One patient of stage I by surgery alone and 2 patients of stage I with comprehensive treatment survived for 121, 209 and 240 months respectively and no recurrence. One patient of stage I with comprehensive treatment was survival for 127 months with tumor burden. Eleven cases died in 3-78 months after diagnosis, the median follow-up time was 20 months. Three year and five year survival rates were 46.7% and 33.3%, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining showed CD31- and CD34-positive for 8 cases and FVIIIRag-positive for 6 cases.

CONCLUSIONSAngiosarcoma of the head and face is a high-risk sarcoma. It is rare and easily misdiagnosed but can be diagnosed properly based on pathological feature. Comprehensive treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve survival rate for the patients with early stage angiosarcoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Facial Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Hemangiosarcoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Scalp ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical treatment patterns and clinicopathological prognostic factors of anorectal malignant melanoma (ARMM).

METHODSThe medical records and follow-up data of 64 patients with anorectal malignant melanoma undergoing surgical treatment from August 1972 to December 2015 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Distant metastasis was discovered in 4 patients when diagnosis, of whom 3 underwent abdominoperineal resection(APR), the other underwent wide local excision (WLE). In the other 60 cases, 46 underwent ARP(1 case received additional right inguinal lymph node dissection), the other 14 underwent WLE(1 case received additional right inguinal lymph node dissection).

RESULTSThe median follow-up time of 64 cases was 24(4 to 139) months. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate was 70.3%, 35.3% and 18.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of 60 patients without distant metastasis undergoing APR and WLE was 19.7% and 23.1%, and the median survival was 19.6 and 24.3 months, respectively(P =0.634), which was not significantly different. According to the Kaplan-Meier method for univariate analysis, involved margins (P=0.024), lymph metastasis (P=0.018) and clinical staging(P=0.003) had significant effects on overall survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that only the lymph node metastasis was significant predictive factor (RR=16.614, 95%CI:1.165 to 236.847, P=0.038).

CONCLUSIONSThe prognosis of ARMM is poor. The lymph node metastasis is the main predictive factors. Operation procedure (APR or WLE) has no obvious effect on prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Anus Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Melanoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

A seven-year-old castrated male Yorkshire terrier dog was presented for a recurrent skin disease. Erythematous skin during the first visit progressed from multiple plaques to patch lesions and exudative erosion in the oral mucosa membrane. Biopsy samples were taken from erythematous skin and were diagnosed with epitheliotropic T cell cutaneous lymphoma by histopathology and immunochemical stain. In serum chemistry, the dog had a hypercalcemia (15.7 mg/dl) and mild increased alkaline phosphatase (417 U/l). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP) in epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma tissues but the neoplastic cells were not labeled with anti-PTH-rP antibodies. The patient was treated with prednisolone and isotretinoin. However, the dog died unexpectedly.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/drug therapy/*pathology ; Dogs ; Fatal Outcome ; Isotretinoin/therapeutic use ; Male ; Mycosis Fungoides/drug therapy/pathology/*veterinary ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology/*veterinary

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and side effect of topical beta-blocker (Timolol Maleate) in the treatment of periocular hemangioma in a prospective study.

METHODS432 outpatients with infantile hemangioma visited our special clinic service in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from July 2010 to December 2011. Among them, 12 superficial periocular lesions were selected in the study. Timolol was used topically on the lesion in every 12 hours. Two independent special doctors evaluated the results according to the pictures before and after four-week application of timolol.

RESULTSWere categorized into four levels: continuous growth (the lesion continues to grow), stable (no visible change), moderate (0-50% of regression) , perfect (more than 50% of improvement). Result of the 12 outpatients, 4 showed perfect result, 2 moderate, 4 stable and 2 continuous growth. No side effect was observed.

CONCLUSIONSTopical timolol is effective and safe in the treatment of superficial periocular infantile hemangioma. It could be considered as the first line treatment of proliferative superficial hemangioma.

Administration, Topical ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; China ; Facial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hemangioma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Prospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Timolol ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDPatients with melanoma metastasized to the central nervous system have a poor prognosis. Because the incidence of malignant melanoma in the Oriental is lower than that in the Caucasian population, brain metastases of malignant melanoma are rarely reported in Asia. Here we present our experience of brain metastasis of melanoma in an Asian perspective.

METHODSFrom 1990 to 2003, 369 patients with melanoma were treated in our hospital, 26 of them were diagnosed as having central nervous system involvement. Of the 26 cases, the clinical history, image, and pathologic findings of 23 patients were analyzed; the other 3 were excluded because of incomplete clinical data.

RESULTSAmong the 369 patients with melanoma, 45% (167/369) developed lower extremity melanoma, and 27.1% (100/369) had acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM); while in the 23 patients with brain metastases, 34.7% (8/23) had lower extremity melanoma, and 34.7% (8/23) had ALM. Among the 23 patients, 17 had acute hemorrhage into the tumor, 8 initially presented with a single cerebral metastatic lesion, and 15 had multiple brain lesions. Ten of them received surgery, 3 underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, and 16 received whole brain radiation. During follow-up, only 2 patients survived for more than 1 year, the median survival period was 5 months. The longest follow-up period was 11 years.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with the Caucasian, Chinese patients with melanoma have a different proportion of melanoma subtype and higher incidence rates of lower extremities melanoma and ALM. However, their clinical presentation and prognosis are similar. The patients, who have excisable single or multiple brain lesions or limited extracranial disease and who are actively treated, may survive longer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Cranial Irradiation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy