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Microscopically controlled surgery (MCS) comprises various methods allowing histologically proven complete resection of malignant tumors while at the same time sparing the tumor-free tissue in the immediate vicinity as much as possible. All procedures subsumed under MCS have in common the marking of the excised tissue for topographical orientation, which provides an assignment of remaining tumor remnants. Indications for MCS are malignant skin tumors in problem localizations as well as aggressive subtypes of skin tumors. Established indications for MCS include basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease as well as Bowen's carcinoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, melanoma in chronically light-damaged skin as well as acral lentiginous melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. For other tumors such as extramammary Paget's disease and various cutaneous sarcomas, evidence exists that MCS has demonstrated benefits, such as local recurrence rates. In addition, MCS is indicated when it is foreseeable that a complex closure technique is required and complete resection of the tumor must be assured. Various methods of MCS have been described, including 3D histology, horizontal method and Mohs surgery. A close cooperation of qualified surgeons and (dermato)pathologists as well as laboratory staff is essential for the successful application of MCS., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft.)

This prospective registry-based study aims to describe electrochemotherapy (ECT) modalities in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients and evaluate its efficacy, safety, and predictive factors. The International Network for Sharing Practices of Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) multicentre database was queried for BCC cases treated with bleomycin-ECT between 2008 and 2019 (n = 330 patients from seven countries, with 623 BCCs [median number: 1/patient; range: 1-7; size: 13 mm, range: 5-350; 85% were primary, and 80% located in the head and neck]). The procedure was carried out under local anaesthesia in 68% of cases, with the adjunct of mild sedation in the remaining 32%. Of 300 evaluable patients, 242 (81%) achieved a complete response (CR) after a single ECT course. Treatment naïvety (odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [C.I.] 0.19-0.67, p = 0.001) and coverage of deep tumour margin with electric pulses (O.R. 5.55, 95% C.I. 1.37-21.69, p = 0.016) predicted CR, whereas previous radiation was inversely correlated (O.R. 0.25, p = 0.0051). Toxicity included skin ulceration (overall, 16%; G3, 1%) and hyperpigmentation (overall, 8.1%; G3, 2.5%). At a 17-month follow-up, 28 (9.3%) patients experienced local recurrence/progression. Despite no convincing evidence that ECT confers improved outcomes compared with standard surgical excision, it can still be considered an opportunity to avoid major resection in patients unsuitable for more demanding treatment. Treatment naïvety and coverage of the deep margin predict tumour clearance and may inform current patient selection and management.

Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an effective local treatment for cutaneous tumors. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ECT in ulcerated vs. non-ulcerated tumors and investigate the effect on tumor-associated symptoms., Methods: Twenty cancer centers in the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) prospectively collected data. ECT was performed following ESOPE protocol. Response was evaluated by lesion size development. Pain, symptoms, performance status (ECOG-Index) and health status (EQ-5D questionnaire) were evaluated., Results: 716 patients with ulcerated (n = 302) and non-ulcerated (n = 414) cutaneous tumors and metastases were included (minimum follow-up of 45 days). Non-ulcerated lesions responded to ECT better than ulcerated lesions (complete response 65 % vs. 51 %, p = 0.0061). Only 38 % (115/302) with ulcerated lesions before ECT presented with ulcerated lesions at final follow-up. Patients with ulcerated lesions reported higher pain and more severe symptoms compared to non-ulcerated lesions, which significantly and continuously improved following ECT. In non-ulcerated lesions however, pain spiked during the treatment. No serious adverse events were reported., Conclusions: ECT is a safe and effective local treatment for cutaneous tumors. While ECT improves symptoms especially in patients with ulcerated lesions, data suggest the implementation of a perioperative pain management in non-ulcerated lesions during ECT., (© 2022 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a treatment for both primary and secondary cutaneous tumours. The international Network for sharing practices on ECT group investigates treatment outcomes after ECT using a common database with defined parameters., Methods: Twenty-eight centres across Europe prospectively uploaded data over an 11-year period. Response rates were investigated in relation to primary diagnosis, tumour size, choice of electrode type, route of bleomycin administration, electrical parameters recorded and previous irradiation in the treated field., Results: Nine hundred eighty-seven patients, with 2482 tumour lesions were included in analysis. The overall response (OR) rate was 85% (complete response [CR]: 70%, partial response rate: 15%, stable disease: 11%, and progressive disease: 2%). For different histologies, OR and CR rates for metastases of malignant melanoma were 82% and 64%, basal cell carcinoma were 96% and 85%, breast cancer metastases were 77% and 62%, squamous cell carcinoma were 80% and 63% as well as Kaposi's sarcoma were 98% and 91%, respectively. Variance was demonstrated across histotypes (p < 0.0001) and in accordance with size of lesion treated (dichotomised at diameter of 3 cm (p < 0.0001). Hexagonal electrodes were generally used for larger tumours, but for tumours up to 3 cm, linear array electrodes provided better tumour control than hexagonal electrodes (80%:74%, p < 0.003). For tumours more than 2 cm, intravenous administration was superior to intratumoural (IT) administration (p < 0.05). Current recorded varied across tumour histologies and size but did not influence response rate. In previously irradiated areas, responses were selectively lower for IT administration., Conclusions: These cumulative data endorse efficiency of ECT across a broad range of histotypes. Analysis of 2482 lesions details subgroup analysis on treatment response informing future treatment choices., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The following authors have conflict of interest: A.J.P.C. reports receiving travel fees for a meeting related to manuscript preparation by IGEA. F.d.T. is an employee of IGEA. J.O. reports receiving travel fees and accommodation fees from IGEA. L.G.C. reports receiving travel support for the International Network for Sharing Practice in Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) meeting from IGEA. D.M. reports receiving travel fees and accommodation fees for InspECT meeting from IGEA. A.D.M.R. reports receiving flight and accommodation fees for electrochemotherapy meeting and has aso received an honorarium. J.G. reports receiving travel fees and accommodation for a meeting related to manuscript preparation from IGEA. The other authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Cutaneous recurrence from breast cancer can pose a clinical challenge. It might be the only disease site, or could be part of disseminated disease, and often profoundly affects quality of life. Electrochemotherapy is a palliative treatment using electric pulses to locally permeabilize tumor cells and thereby significantly increase bleomycin cytotoxicity. Collaborating with the International Network for Sharing Practice on ElectroChemoTherapy (INSPECT), we consecutively and prospectively accrued data on patients treated with electrochemotherapy for cutaneous metastases from breast cancer., Patients and Methods: Patients were treated with electrochemotherapy at 10 European centers. Under either local or general anaesthesia patients were treated with either local injection (1000 IU/mL intratumoral) or systemic infusion (15,000 IU/m 2 ) of bleomycin., Results: One hundred nineteen patients were included at 10 institutions in the INSPECT network. The primary location was the chest (89%), the median diameter of the cutaneous metastases was 25 mm. Ninety patients were available for response evaluation after 2 months. Complete response was observed in 45 patients (50%), partial response in 19 (21%), stable disease in 16 (18%), and progressive disease in 7 (8%). Three patients were not evaluable. Common side effects were ulceration, long-lasting hyperpigmentation, and low-grade pain. No serious adverse events were observed., Conclusion: Electrochemotherapy showed high response rates after a single treatment. Electrochemotherapy has few side effects and can be used as an adjunct to systemic therapies or as a solo treatment. We therefore recommend considering electrochemotherapy for patients with cutaneous metastases., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is currently used to treat unresectable superficial tumours of different histotypes through the combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and local application of electric pulses. In 2006, a collaborative project defined the ESOPE (European Standard Operating Procedures of Electrochemotherapy) guidelines to standardize the procedure. The International Network for Sharing Practices of Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) aims to refine the ESOPE and improve clinical practice. Limiting patient exposure to systemic chemotherapy would be advisable to ameliorate ECT safety profile., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of ECT with reduced chemotherapy dosages., Methods: In a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database (InspECT registry), we evaluated the outcome of patients who received ECT with reduced dosages of bleomycin (7500, 10 000 or 13 500 IU/m 2 , instead of the standard dose of 15 000 IU/m 2 ). Tumour response in melanoma patients was compared with melanoma patients of the InspECT registry who received the standard dose of bleomycin., Results: We identified 57 patients with 147 tumours (melanoma, 38.6%; squamous cell carcinoma, 22.8%; basal cell carcinoma, 17.5%; breast cancer 7%; Kaposi sarcoma 7%; other histotypes, 7.1%). Per-tumour complete response (CR) rate at 60 days was 70.1% (partial, 16.3%); per-patient CR was 57.9% (partial, 21.1%). Local pain was the most frequently reported side-effect (n = 22 patients [39%]), mostly mild; two patients experienced flu-like symptoms, one patient nausea. We observed the same CR rate (55%) in patients with melanoma treated by reduced or conventional bleomycin dosages (P = 1.00)., Conclusions: Electrochemotherapy performed with reduced bleomycin dosages could be as effective as with currently recommended dose. Patients with impaired renal function or candidate to multiple ECT cycles could benefit from a reduced dose protocol. Our findings need prospective confirmation before being adopted in clinical practice., (© 2017 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Electrochemotherapy is now in routine clinical use to treat cutaneous metastases of any histology, and is listed in national and international guidelines for cutaneous metastases and primary skin cancer. Electrochemotherapy is used by dermatologists, surgeons, and oncologists, and for different degrees and manifestations of metastases to skin and primary skin tumours not amenable to surgery. This treatment utilises electric pulses to permeabilize cell membranes in tumours, thus allowing a dramatic increase of the cytotoxicity of anti-cancer agents. Response rates, often after only one treatment, are very high across all tumour types. The most frequent indications are cutaneous metastases from malignant melanoma and breast cancer. In 2006, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were written for this novel technology, greatly facilitating introduction and dissemination of the therapy. Since then considerable experience has been obtained treating a wider range of tumour histologies and increasing size of tumours which was not originally thought possible. A pan-European expert panel drawn from a range of disciplines from dermatology, general surgery, head and neck surgery, plastic surgery, and oncology met to form a consensus opinion to update the SOPs based on the experience obtained. This paper contains these updated recommendations for indications for electrochemotherapy, pre-treatment information and evaluation, treatment choices, as well as follow-up.

Background: (ECT) is an effective local treatment for cutaneous metastasis. Treatment involves the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs followed by delivery of electrical pulses to the tumour., Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of ECT in cutaneous metastases of melanoma and to identify factors that affect (beneficially or adversely) the outcome., Methods: Thirteen cancer centres in the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy consecutively and prospectively uploaded data to a common database. ECT consisted of intratumoral or intravenous injection of bleomycin, followed by application of electric pulses under local or general anaesthesia., Results: In total, 151 patients with metastatic melanoma were identified from the database, 114 of whom had follow-up data of 60 days or more. Eighty-four of these patients (74%) experienced an overall response (OR = complete response + partial response). Overall, 394 lesions were treated, of which 306 (78%) showed OR, with 229 showing complete response (58%). In multivariate analysis, factors positively associated with overall response were coverage of deep margins, absence of visceral metastases, presence of lymphoedema and treatment of nonirradiated areas. Factors significantly associated with complete response to ECT treatment were coverage of deep margins, previous irradiation of the treated area and tumour size (< 3 cm). One-year overall survival in this cohort of patients was 67% (95% confidence interval 57-77%), while melanoma-specific survival was 74% (95% confidence interval 64-84%). No serious adverse events were reported, and the treatment was in general very well tolerated., Conclusions: ECT is a highly effective local treatment for melanoma metastases in the skin, with no severe adverse effects noted in this study. In the presence of certain clinical factors, ECT may be considered for local tumour control as an alternative to established local treatments, or as an adjunct to systemic treatments., (© 2017 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Background: Sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is considered a standard staging procedure providing important prognostic information on melanoma patients. It remains a matter of debate, whether SLND and hence, removal of potential lymph node micrometastasis will alter survival outcome., Objective: The aim of this group-matched analysis was to compare survival data of a large cohort of melanoma patients who were treated by wide local excision only (WLE) and nodal observation (WLE group) to a group of patients treated with WLE plus SLND group to investigate the potential therapeutic benefit of SLND in the treatment of patients with melanoma., Methods and Materials: A total of 596 consecutive patients who had undergone WLE plus SLND between 1996 and 2003 were assessed. As a historical control group 596 patients treated with WLE and nodal observation but without SLND between 1986 and 1995 were selected. The groups were matched according to sex, age, Breslow tumour thickness and localization of primary tumour. The adjuvant treatment and follow-up examinations were performed according to protocols of the German Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG) and applicable study protocols that our clinic participated in; and hence, subject to change over time., Results: Kaplan-Meier testing revealed significant differences in survival in favour of the SLND group. Mean overall tumour-specific survival (OS) was 102.7 months in the SLND group vs. 97.0 months in the WLE group respectively (P-value: 0.024). Disease-free survival (log-rank test: 0.003) and time to lymph node progression (P-value: <0.01) also differed significantly between the two groups., Conclusion: SLND is not only an important diagnostic procedure, but might also be of therapeutic benefit in terms of disease-free and overall tumour-specific survival of melanoma patients., (© 2016 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become a valuable non-invasive tool in the in vivo diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer, especially of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Due to an updated software-supported algorithm, a new en-face mode - similar to the horizontal en-face mode in high-definition OCT and reflectance confocal microscopy - surface-parallel imaging is possible which, in combination with the established slice mode of frequency domain (FD-)OCT, may offer additional information in the diagnosis of BCC., Objectives: To define characteristic morphologic features of BCC using the new en-face mode in addition to the conventional cross-sectional imaging mode for three-dimensional imaging of BCC in FD-OCT., Methods: A total of 33 BCC were examined preoperatively by imaging in en-face mode as well as cross-sectional mode in FD-OCT. Characteristic features were evaluated and correlated with histopathology findings., Results: Features established in the cross-sectional imaging mode as well as additional features were present in the en-face mode of FD-OCT: lobulated structures (100%), dark peritumoral rim (75%), bright peritumoral stroma (96%), branching vessels (90%), compressed fibrous bundles between lobulated nests ('star shaped') (78%), and intranodular small bright dots (51%). These features were also evaluated according to the histopathological subtype. In the en-face mode, the lobulated structures with compressed fibrous bundles of the BCC were more distinct than in the slice mode., Conclusion: FD-OCT with a new depiction for horizontal and vertical imaging modes offers additional information in the diagnosis of BCC, especially in nodular BCC, and enhances the possibility of the evaluation of morphologic tumour features., (© 2016 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: Electrochemotherapy describes the use of electric pulses to enhance chemotherapy uptake, and has proven highly efficient in treating cutaneous metastases. Patients referred for electrochemotherapy present with diverse clinical pictures, from multiple small lesions to large, ulcerated lesions. Post-electrochemotherapy pain has been observed in some patients. The objectives of this study were to evaluate pain scores before and after electrochemotherapy, and to investigate if patients at risk of post-procedure pain could be identified., Methods: Seven cancer centres in the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (INSPECT) consecutively and prospectively reported to a common database. Electrochemotherapy consisted of intratumoural or intravenous injection of bleomycin, followed by delivery of electric pulses in local or general anesthesia., Results: Of 121 patients 39% had metastatic melanoma, 18% squamous cell carcinoma, 16% breast cancer, 13% basal-cell carcinoma, and 14% other malignancies. Median size of the largest nodules was 2.3 cm (range 0.3-40 cm). A majority of patients presented with low pain scores, and this continued through follow-up (74%). A subset of patients had moderate (13%) or severe pain (13%) after treatment. Post-procedure pain was statistically significantly associated with: 1) moderate or severe pain before treatment (p<0.0001); 2) size of the largest treated lesion (p<0.01); 3) previous irradiation (p<0.02); and 4) high treatment current value (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: The majority of patients had no or mild pain after electrochemotherapy. Patients at risk for post-procedure pain could be identified at the pre-treatment visit, and/or at the time of treatment, enabling a pain management strategy for this group.

Background: Perineural invasion (PNI) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is considered to be a negative prognostic factor. A lot of uncertainty remains regarding the classification, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of SCC with PNI., Objective: To describe typical courses of SCC with PNI and associated findings in order to suggest an optimized diagnostic and therapeutic approach., Methods: We present eight cases of SCC with PNI, considering patient and tumor characteristics, histology, treatment and clinical course regarding local recurrence and metastasization., Results: SCC patients with PNI have a higher rate of local recurrences and greater risk for metastasization than SCC patients without PNI. Age ranged from 68 to 77 years, 6 patients were male and 2 female, with all tumors localized on the head. Three patients had chronic lymphocytic leukemia., Conclusion: Based on the data of this series and the current literature, we make suggestions for better diagnostic and therapeutic management., (© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Soft tissue defects of the scalp can be closed with varying techniques depending on size and depth of the defect. While small and superficial defects can be closed primarily or be left open for secondary intention healing, larger and deeper defects may need flaps or skin grafts. Extensive defects may require combined flaps or vacuum assisted closure techniques. Defects of the periosteum with denuded skull bone must be treated immediately to avoid bony complications. Usually, the tabula externa is fenestrated with holes or abraded totally to create better healing conditions. Granulation tissue may be induced on the properly prepared skull with vacuum-assisted closure, by using collagen sheets or with dermal skin substitutes. New developments in tissue engineering will surely provide new techniques for dealing with deep and extensive soft tissue defects.

UV radiation is an important environmental risk factor for cutaneous melanoma; however, information concerning UV exposure in many populations is lacking. The aim of our study was to investigate risk factors for malignant melanoma (MM), particularly those related to UV exposure behavior in the Czech Republic and Germany. This case-control study included 207 patients who were consecutively diagnosed with MM in 2 dermatology clinics in Prague, Czech Republic, and Munich, Germany. Controls were 235 patients with other dermatologic conditions. All 442 participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic data and factors related to UV exposure. The association between risk factors and MM was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Patients with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II had a higher likelihood of developing melanoma than those with Fitzpatrick skin type III. Frequent sunburns during childhood and adolescence were strongly related to developing melanoma. A higher level of education also was associated with a higher melanoma incidence. Variables related to UV exposure were strongly associated with melanoma in our study population. Prevention campaigns should be implemented to improve awareness of melanoma to reduce exposure to UV radiation among high-risk patient populations.

Background: Micrographic surgery is an established, but time-consuming operating procedure for facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC). A new high-definition (HD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) with high lateral and axial resolution in a horizontal (en-face) and vertical (slice) imaging mode allows a fast and non-invasive in vivo examination of BCC., Objectives: To compare the diagnosis of BCC in excised tissue ex vivo by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) with the findings of frozen-section histology in micrographic surgery., Methods: Twenty freshly excised BCC were examined by HD-OCT in the en-face and slice imaging mode divided into four sections each in concordance with the four excision margins of histography, and subsequently processed for conventional micrographic evaluation., Results: A total of 80 HD-OCT images of 20 BCCs were evaluated and in 45% (9/20) HD-OCT correlated perfectly with the histography results. The sensitivity and specificity for the 80 evaluated HD-OCT images were 74% and 64% respectively., Conclusions: High-definition optical coherence tomography allows the postoperative identification of BCC in excised tissue ex vivo, but has still limitations in the recognition of tumour margins in comparison with the micrographic evaluation of frozen sections., (© 2013 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2013 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare dermal tumor of intermediate malignancy with a locally aggressive growth behavior with a high rate of recurrence. Wide local excision with histographic margin control as well as regular follow-ups including clinical as well as ultrasound examination are crucial to detect local recurrence or metastasis. Ultrasound imaging can not only identify recurrences but also asses their extent. We report on a patient with a relapse of fibrosarcomatous DFSP, which could be demonstrated by ultrasound imaging.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is commonly recommended for patients with primary Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, it is critically discussed whether survival rates improve by SLNB in MCC patients in general or in subgroups of higher risk (e.g. with primary tumor size >1 cm). The present study correlates clinical data, histology and lymph node status with follow-up and survival data to see if subgroups can be identified for modification of the current recommendations. The medical records of 47 patients with histologically confirmed MCC treated between 1995 and 2010 at a German dermatosurgery department were reviewed. Nineteen patients with excision of the primary tumor and SLNB were compared to 28 patients with excision of the primary tumor but without SLNB. End-points of this study were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In addition, clinical course was correlated with tumor size and size of safety margin. The group of patients who received SLNB showed a significant advantage in terms of OS (P < 0.05), but not in terms of DFS. Tumors of smaller size were associated with a significantly better DFS and a trend towards better OS. Comparing the groups with different safety margins (1-3 cm), no differences in DFS and OS could be found. Our data support the current recommendation for SLNB in all MCC patients and question the use of extensive safety margins in MCC surgery. Larger prospective multicenter studies with multivariate analysis are needed to confirm whether a prolonged OS is really due to the SLNB procedure or biased by other factors., (© 2013 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Excision of large scalp tumours may result in exposed bone devoid of periosteum. The resultant surgical defects may be too large to close by either primary closure or local cutaneous flap. The denuded bone usually precludes the immediate placement of a skin graft., Objectives: To describe our experience with milling the outer cortical table of the skull in order to promote granulation and hasten wound healing., Methods: In 11 patients, we expanded existing techniques of exposing diploic veins in the cancellous bone by completely milling the exposed outer table of the scalp bone with a rose head burr driven by a pneumatic power drill. After induction of punctate bleeding a split-skin graft was placed in the same session and secured with a tie-over foam dressing. Dressing was removed 7 days after surgery. All patients received perioperative antibiotics. Informed consent was obtained prior to the procedure., Results: In all 11 patients a healing of the split-thickness skin graft was observed within 1 week., Conclusions: The combination of extensive exposure of cancellous bone and an immediate split-thickness skin graft reduces convalescence time from multiple weeks to 7 days. This is beneficial in older patients sparing them from frequent visits to the doctor. Furthermore, early closure may reduce the risk of infection., (© 2012 The Authors. BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Background: Genetic predisposition and ultraviolet (UV) exposure are the most important risk factors for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Recent reports have demonstrated an increasing incidence of BCC among younger patients. We investigated potential risk factors for sporadic BCC in a subset of young German patients., Methods: Twenty-five patients with BCC at the age of 19 to 40 years (mean 34.4 years) were included in the study. They were selected from a total of 2,058 patients who received surgical treatment for BCC between December 2004 and November 2008. Patients were contacted by telephone interview and asked about sun habits, associated medical conditions, and lifestyle-related variables. Data were compared with interview results from sex-, age- and skin type-matched controls., Results: We found 1.4% (29) of 2,058 BCC patients to be ≤40 years of age. Four patients had Gorlin-Goltz syndrome and were excluded from further analysis. Multivariate analysis showed tanning bed use (OR= 25.0; IC95%: 2.26-277.36) and smoking (OR=13.34; IC95%: 1.56-113.8) to be the most significant independent risk factors for BCC, while sunscreen use had a protective effect., Conclusion: BCCs in young patients were only rarely related to hereditary syndromes, but were associated with environmental carcinogens, i.e. UV radiation and smoking.

Background: Early treatment of port wine stains with ionizing radiation can lead to the development of often multifocal basal cell carcinomas (BCC) after decades. In most cases it is clinically impossible to distinguish between the tumor and the underlying vascular malformation and to decide where to set surgical margins., Patients and Methods: We report on a series of three patients with BCC overlying a port wine stain that had previously been treated with radiation therapy in early childhood. In all patients Mohs surgery was performed to insure complete excision of the BCC., Results: In our patients, development of BCC occurred about 20 to 40 years after radiation therapy. Clinically - without the help of Mohs surgery - the borders of the BCC could not have been detected due to the underlying nevi flammei in all cases., Conclusions: BCC overlying a port wine stain previously treated with radiation therapy is a rare but ideal indication for Mohs surgery. In addition we recommend regular clinical follow-ups to detect recurrent or additional BCC as early as possible.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a widely accepted procedure to accurately stage patients with melanoma. However, there is no consensus concerning the practical consequences of a positive SLN, since a survival benefit of a complete lymph node dissection (CLND) has not yet been demonstrated., Objective: We wondered whether we could identify a subgroup of patients with metastatic involvement of the SLN who could be excluded from the recommendation to undergo CLND., Methods: At the Department of Dermatology at the University of Munich, a total of 213 patients with metastatic SLNs (24.9%) were identified among 854 patients who had undergone SLNB between 1996 and 2007. All SLN-positive patients had been advised to have CLND. Survival analyses were performed by using the Kaplan-Meier approach., Results: A total of 176 (82.6%) of 213 SLN-positive patients underwent CLND. In this group, 26 patients (14.8%) showed metastatic disease in non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 26.1% in NSLN-positive patients and 74% in NSLN-negative patients. SLN-positive patients who refused CLND had a better prognosis than patients with CLND. Breslow tumor thickness was significantly associated with positive CLND status with higher median values in CLND-positive than CLND-negative patients (3.03 vs 2.22 mm)., Limitations: The subgroup of patients with metastatic disease in CLND may have been too small to reach statistical significance for other tumor- or patient-related parameters. Mitotic indices of the primary melanomas had not been determined in this retrospective study; thus a possible correlation with lymph node status could not be tested., Conclusion: Among SLN-positive patients, the presence of metastatic NSLN is a highly significant poor prognostic factor. Tumor thickness is a significant prognostic parameter for positive CLND status and might be considered in the decision to perform CLND in case of metastatic SLN., (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a widely accepted staging procedure in patients with melanoma. However, it is unclear which factors predict the occurrence of micrometastasis and overall prognosis and whether SLNB should also be performed in patients with thin primary tumors. At our Department of Dermatology, University of Munich (Germany), 1049 consecutive melanoma patients were identified for SLNB between 1996 and 2007, and were followed-up to assess disease-free and overall survival. Of those, a total of 854 patients were analyzed prospectively. Patients with positive SLN were subjected to selective lymphadenectomy. The association of patient characteristics with SLN was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. Survival curves were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard regression with different adjustments was used to estimate the effect of SLN on survival. The detection rate of SLN was 97.24%, of which 24.9% were metastatic. Significant parameters upon SLN positivity were tumor thickness and nodular type of melanoma. The 5-year overall survival was 90.1 and 58.1% in SLN-negative and SLN-positive patients, respectively. Upon multivariate analysis tumor thickness and SLN status were significant factors influencing both disease-free survival and overall survival. In conclusion, our data confirm that SLNB is relevant as a diagnostic and staging procedure and that tumor thickness is of predictive importance. SLN status should be taken into account when designing clinical trials and informing patients about the probable course of their disease. Our data suggest that in case of a nodular melanoma subtype SLNB should also be considered at a tumor thickness below 1 mm.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the standard care for melanoma and is an important diagnostic procedure. It has been doubted whether lymphoscintigraphy detects the correct sentinel lymph node (SLN) when excision of the tumor and SLNB are not performed at the same time. This would imply that this sequential approach may have an increased risk of undetected micrometastases resulting in a worse outcome., Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the outcome of melanoma patients having received excision of the tumor and SLNB either at the same time or consecutively., Methods: A total of 854 patients with cutaneous melanoma were enrolled in this retrospective study between September 1996 and November 2007. Disease-free (DFS) and overall survivals (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and were analyzed by the log rank test., Results: No statistically significant difference was found regarding DFS, progression rates and OS in patients with primary tumor excision and SLNB at the same time compared with patients with excisional biopsy of primary tumor and SLNB at different times., Conclusion: These data suggest that excisional biopsy of the primary tumor does not prevent the correct SLN mapping in melanoma patients., (Copyright (c) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) reliably assesses the status of the regional lymph node basins and provides prognostic information in patients with cutaneous melanoma, but is logistically demanding and expensive., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of high resolution B-mode ultrasonography (US) for pre-operative identification and characterization of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in patients with cutaneous melanoma., Patients and Methods: In a prospective trial, the use of high resolution US was assessed in 25 consecutive patients with cutaneous melanoma identified for SLNB, first, for its value in primary detection of SLN, and, second, for its value in the correct assessment of SLN after lymphoscintigraphic mapping., Results: High resolution B-mode US correctly identified two of 6 positive SLN. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of US were 33.3% (95% CI 43.3-77.7), 100.0% (95% CI 88.1-100.0), 100.0% (95%CI 15.8-100.0) and 87.9% (95% CI 71.8-96.6), respectively., Conclusion: High resolution B-mode US cannot replace SLNB, especially in the detection of micrometastases, but it remains the most important method to assess the lymph node status for macrometastases presurgically.

Background: Despite the enormous progress in dermatosurgery during the last 35 years,this achievement is not always appropriately acknowledged by other surgical specialties. We outline the significance of dermatosurgery by looking at the development of dermatological operations at the Department of Dermatology,University of Munich/Hospital of Munich Thalkirchner Strasse., Patients and Methods: Data were collected and analyzed from surgery records, tables and from the SAP ISH-Med.The survey covered the time frame from 1971 to 2006., Results: There were 101,103 inpatient operations. The number of operations per year increased steadily,especially the number of medium-sized and large operations. A special domain of dermatosurgery is the sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with malignant melanoma. In the last years, there was a continuous increase of patients in whom more than one tumor had to be excised. The percentage of patients undergoing dermatosurgery was constant at 46% of all inpatients., Conclusions: The surgical therapy of skin tumors is the most important part of inpatient treatment of dermatology patients. The development of dermatosurgery shows that due to the increase of skin tumors and the opening of new fields of activity (for example the removal of sentinel lymph nodes) there is a growing demand for dermatological surgeons. Solid training and competent representation in dermatology and attention to our interactions with other surgical specialties will help guarantee optimal patient care in the future.

The incidence of the most common tumors of the skin, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, has risen rapidly in recent years. Dermatologists see in their daily practice many different clinical and histological variants of these tumors. They must be able to develop therapeutic strategies adapted to the tumor and the patient. Surgical excision remains the standard treatment. Micrographic histological evaluation should be employed in difficult locations, for large tumors and when there is increased risk of recurrence or metastasis. For initial or superficial lesions, other approaches such as radiation therapy, as well as curettage, cryosurgery, laser therapy and photodynamic therapy can be employed. An additional option is topical treatment with imiquimod or 5-flourouracil.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy enhances the accuracy of tumor staging in patients with malignant melanoma and can help select candidates for regional lymphadenectomy. There are two techniques for identifying the sentinel lymph node: intradermal injection of a radionuclide tracer or of a blue dye. We evaluated both methods to determine how they can be best utilized to locate a sentinel lymph node., Patients and Methods: In a retrospective study, 323 patients with melanoma (tumor thickness > or = 0.75 mm) who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy after both radionuclide and blue dye injection were evaluated. The labeling of lymph nodes showing micrometastasis by histopathological examination was determined., Results: 63 patients showed sentinel lymph nodes with micrometastasis. All of these nodes (100 %) were labeled with radionuclide tracer, but only 90 % with blue dye. In 5 patients, only radionuclide labeling identified the histopathologically-positive lymph node. In 36 patients, several sentinel lymph nodes were identified, with the histopathologically-positive nodes usually showing a higher radioactive signal intensity than the negative ones., Conclusion: Since in some patients histopathologically-positive lymph nodes are only labeled by radionuclide tracer, radionuclide labeling is indispensable for locating sentinel lymph nodes. In contrast, labeling with blue dye represents a supplementary method, which can simplify the recognition of the sentinel lymph node during surgery.

Early versus delayed excision of lymph node metastases is still being assessed in malignant melanoma. In the present retrospective, multicentre study, the outcome of 314 patients with positive sentinel lymphonodectomy (SLNE) was compared with the outcome of 623 patients with delayed lymph node dissection (DLND) of clinically enlarged lymph node metastases. In order to avoid the lead-time bias, survival was generally calculated from the excision of the primary tumour. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimate. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to perform a multivariate analysis of factors related to overall survival. Compared with SLNE and early performed complete lymph node dissection, DLND yielded a significantly higher number of lymph node metastases. Median and mean tumour thickness were nearly identical in the two therapy groups. The estimated 3-year overall survival rate was 80.1+/-2.8% (+/-standard error of the mean (SEM)) in patients with positive SLNs, and 67.6+/-1.9% in patients with DLND (5-year survival rates 62.5+/-5.5 and 50.2+/-5.4%, respectively). The difference between the two survival curves was statistically significant (P=0.002). Using multifactorial analysis, SLNE (P=0.000052), American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Breslow thickness category (P<0.000001), age (P=0.01) and gender (P=0.028) were independent predictors of overall survival. The location of the primary tumour (P=0.59) was non-significant. Considering only those centres with sufficient data for epidermal ulceration, this risk factor was also significant. In cutaneous malignant melanoma, early excision of lymphatic metastases, directed by the sentinel node procedure, provides a highly significant overall survival benefit.

Nuchal fibroma is a fibrolipoma-like soft tissue mass, located on the back and neck of middle-aged men. Clinically it presents as adiffuse indurated subcutaneous swelling and, sometimes painful and inflamed. Since the first descriptions, by Enzinger and Weiss and Lister et al. both in 1988, under the name "collagenosis nuchae", only 15 additional cases have been reported. Nonetheless, the lesion is comparatively common. We report another case of nuchal fibroma emphasizing the distinctive clinical and histopathological features of this lesion and its differential diagnosis.