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Notes: Papillon-Lefevre syndrome is a rare disorder of keratinization inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. It is characterized by thickening of palms and soles, perindonlopathia, tendency to pyogenic skin infections and sometimes mental impairment. The authors report Papillon-Lefevre syndrome in two sisters in whom the familial pedigree shows the autosomal recessive inheritance of the trait. Two oilier important disorders of keratinization transmitted by an autosomal recessive gene. Richner-Hanhart syndrome and Mal de Meleda, are excluded by clinical and metabolic criteria. Systemic therapy with etretinate and acitretin could not be performed because one of the patients has a hepatopathy and the other refuses the treatment. Application of local keratolytics is giving quite good results.

Notes: Background The early diagnosis of melanoma is based on the collaboration between dermatologists and family doctors, who filter subjects to be referred to a pigmented lesion clinic (PLC). Following growing media coverage, there is increasing concern in the general population about the risk of the ‘changing mole’, resulting in a progressively increased workload in PLCs. Aim and methods We investigated the causes of referral to a PLC in a series of 193 attendees seen consecutively at the PLC of the University of Florence. Because the number of naevi is the major risk factor for melanoma in Mediterranean populations, the concordance between self-counting of naevi and the clinical evaluation of a PLC dermatologist in order to classify high-risk individuals was also investigated. Results Detection of a clinically suspicious lesion at dermatological examination occurred in 13 of 193 subjects referred by general practitioners (6·7%), with three melanomas confirmed histologically (overall detection rate: three of 193, 1·6%). The positive predictive value of the ‘presence of a suspicious lesion’, the cause of referral in 39·9% of subjects, was 9·1% when based on the gold standard criterion represented by the clinical detection of a suspicious lesion by the dermatologist and 3·8% based on the histological diagnosis of melanoma; the negative predictive value was 94·8% (100% when based on the histological diagnosis of melanoma), suggesting that the clinical detection of a suspicious lesion in subjects with different causes of referral (such as risk factors for melanoma, or the need to be reassured about moles) is unlikely. There was poor agreement between self-evaluation based on the presence of multiple naevi and the dermatological examination (gold standard) for both common and atypical naevi. The highest concordance (κ = 0·32, 95% confidence interval 0·20–0·43) was associated with a dichotomized count of naevi as up to 50 or more than 50 naevi. Conclusions In order to reduce the PLC workload, the filtering role of the family doctor needs to be improved, so that only subjects with a specific suspicious lesion are referred to the PLC. The self-assessment of melanoma risk based on the presence of multiple naevi was not reliable.

Notes: Background  Because of the many limitations of studies based on the diagnostic setting of excised lesions, the impact of dermoscopy (epiluminescence microscopy, dermatoscopy) in melanoma screening during practice remains to be established.Objectives  We assumed that effects of the use of dermoscopy on some indicators of diagnostic performance in melanoma screening should be traceable retrospectively; therefore, we analysed the impact of routine dermoscopy use on the malignant/benign ratio in excised melanocytic lesions.Methods  Preoperative and histological diagnosis of 3053 melanocytic lesions [319 melanomas (10·4%)] consecutively diagnosed and excised at the Department of Dermatology, University of Florence in the period 1997–2001 inclusive were retrieved. Six dermatologists who selected the lesions to excise and who performed preoperative diagnosis were divided into two groups according to their use of dermoscopy in routine activity (n = 2 dermoscopy users and n = 4 nonusers). The study period was divided into a predermoscopy period (1997), a shift phase (1998) and a dermoscopy period (1999–2001).Results  During the study period, the malignant/benign ratio improved in dermoscopy users only (from 1 : 18 to 1 : 4·3, P = 0·037). No significant difference was found for nonusers (from 1 : 11·8 to 1 : 14·4). Dermoscopy users were more likely to have a melanoma diagnosed within a series of excised lesions than nonusers, even taking into account potential confounders such as sex, age and study period by means of multivariate analysis (odds ratio 1·55, 95% confidence interval 1·17–2·01). The percentage of ‘problem’ naevi (naevi with architectural disorder with or without cytological atypia and Spitz or Reed naevi) over the total number of excised lesions was higher in dermoscopy users than in nonusers (year 2001, 51·6% vs. 40·9%, P = 0·014). Similar findings were obtained after exclusion from the data set of lesions excised for cosmetic reasons.Conclusions  The adoption of dermoscopy in routine melanoma screening is followed by an improvement of the malignant/benign ratio in excised lesions, suggesting a more appropriate selection of pigmented lesions referred to surgery. Because of the possible limitations of a retrospective study design, future confirmation of this finding by means of a prospective, randomized study is advisable. The introduction of dermoscopy in routine practice may have major implications in large-scale melanoma screening with cost savings and a reduction of the dermosurgery workload.

Notes: Summary Background Simplified algorithms for dermoscopy in melanoma diagnosis were developed in order to facilitate the use of this technique by non-experts. However, little is known about their reliability compared with classic pattern analysis when taught to untrained observers. Objectives To investigate the diagnostic performance of three different methods, i.e. classic pattern analysis and two of the most used algorithms (the ABCD rule of dermoscopy and the seven-point check-list) when used by newly trained residents in dermatology to diagnose melanocytic lesions. Methods Five residents in dermatology (University of Florence Medical School) were submitted to a teaching programme in dermoscopy based on both formal lessons and training and self-assessment using a newly developed, interactive CD-ROM on dermoscopy. The performance of the three diagnostic methods was analysed in a series of 200 clinically equivocal melanocytic lesions including 44 early melanomas (median thickness 0·30 mm; 25th−75th percentile 0·00–0·58 mm). Results Pattern analysis yielded the best mean diagnostic accuracy (68·7%), followed by the ABCD rule (56·1%) and the seven-point check-list (53·4%, P = 0·06). The best sensitivity was associated with the use of the seven-point check-list (91·9%), which, however, provided the worst specificity (35·2%) of the methods tested. The interobserver reproducibility, as shown by κ statistics, was low for all the methods (range 0·27–0·33) and did not show any statistical difference among them. Conclusions Pattern analysis, i.e. simultaneous assessment of the diagnostic value of all dermoscopy features shown by the lesion, proved to be the most reliable procedure for melanoma diagnosis to be taught to residents in dermatology.

Notes: The association of contiguous or ‘collision’ tumours in the same biopsy specimen is not uncommon and is often reported in the literature. The most common association, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and naevus, is very difficult to diagnose clinically. We describe a 38-year-old woman with a previous history of melanoma, who presented with a modified pigmented lesion of the hip that had begun to change 6 months earlier. Histologically, the lesion was a melanocytic compound naevus and a BCC with a seborrhoeic keratosis. The case was investigated clinically and by focusing on the dermoscopic features and their pathological correlates. Cutaneous collision tumours are extremely difficult to diagnose preoperatively, even with the help of dermoscopy, in particular when one of the lesions is melanocytic.

Notes: Background Epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) (dermoscopy, dermatoscopy) is a technique for non-invasive diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions that improves the diagnostic performance of dermatologists. Little is known about the possible influence of associated clinical features on the reliability of dermoscopic diagnosis during in vivo examination.Objective To compare diagnostic performance of in vivo dermoscopy (combined clinical and dermoscopic examination) with that of dermoscopy performed on photographic slides (pure dermoscopy).Design This case series comprised 256 pigmented skin lesions consecutively identified as suspicious or equivocal during examination in a general dermatological clinic. Clinical examination and in vivo dermoscopy were performed before excision by two trained dermatologists. The same observers carried out dermoscopy on photographic slides at a later time, and these three diagnostic classifications were reviewed together with the histological findings for the individual lesions. This was carried out in a university hospital.Results In vivo dermoscopy performed better than dermoscopy on photographic slides for classification of pigmented skin lesions compared with histological diagnosis, and both performed better than general clinical diagnosis. In vivo dermoscopic diagnosis of melanoma showed 98.1% sensitivity, 95.5% specificity and 96.1% diagnostic accuracy while dermoscopic diagnosis of melanoma on photographic slides was less reliable with 81.5% sensitivity, 86.7% specificity and 85.2% diagnostic accuracy. In particular, diagnosis of melanoma based on photographic slides led to nine false negative cases (three in situ , six invasive; thickness ranges 0.2–1.5 mm).Conclusions In vivo dermoscopy, i.e. combined clinical and dermoscopic examination, is more reliable than dermoscopy on photographic slides. In clinical practice, therefore, in vivo dermoscopy cannot be considered independent from associated clinical characteristics of the lesions, which help the trained observer to reach a more precise classification. This may have implications on the reliability of ELM diagnosis made by an observer not fully trained in the clinical diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions or by a remote observer during digital ELM teleconsultation.

Notes: Background Wounds too extensive to permit primary repair by suturing can be closed using a skin graft or skin flap and the choice of method depends on a series of factors. Practice and personal experience play a role, as well as the characteristics of the lesion and its site. Each case poses special problems, so it is not possible to establish firm rules.Objective To present a surgical technique for the closure of a circular defect located on the dorsum of the foot, which resulted from the extirpation of a melanoma by surgery.Methods In this case we used a mixed procedure consisting of skin flaps and a double full-thickness skin graft. For this operation we used dog-ears resulting from the circular exeresis performed for the extirpation of the tumour.Results The reconstructive results were good and there were no postoperative complications.Conclusions We consider this procedure particularly suitable for certain anatomical sites, such as the dorsum of the foot, where the skin is less elastic and thinner; and for patients who are not willing to accept skin removal from other sites or for flaps to be made with more invasive operations and more constructed scars.

Notes: Little is known about the occurrence of false negatives in the diagnosis of melanoma using dermoscopy in clinical practice: in the literature dermoscopy only increased the accuracy of diagnosis of equivocal lesions that were to undergo biopsy anyway.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Aim and methodsWe collected the 81 lesions clinically diagnosed as probable melanomas by experienced specialists (from a series of 256 pigmented skin lesions submitted to excisional biopsy) and reviewed them for possible false negative results in the diagnosis of melanoma using in vivo dermoscopy and dermoscopy performed on slide images. Both procedures were carried out by the same experienced dermatologists who classified the lesions clinically.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉ResultsDermoscopy made on slide images (observers blinded for clinical features of the lesions) yielded three false negative results (91% sensitivity) in a group of 35 histologically confirmed melanomas. In vivo dermoscopy showed better results, with no melanomas missed (100% sensitivity). The frequency of false positive results in the diagnosis of melanoma was 13.5% (11 of 81) with dermoscopy on slide images and 2.5% (two of 81) with in vivo dermoscopy.〈section xml:id="abs1-5"〉〈title type="main"〉ConclusionsOnly in vivo dermoscopy by fully trained dermatologists with both clinical and dermoscopic experience avoids the risk of misclassification of melanomas otherwise correctly classified on clinical grounds.

Notes: Dermatoscopy or epiluminescence microscopy (ELM), is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians to evaluate fully – by means of a magnified oil immersion diascopy – numerous morphological features, not visible with the naked eye, which enhance the diagnosis of nearly all pigmented skin lesions. In recent years, a burst of research activity in this topic has been carried out, dealing with different aspects, and new frontiers, of this technique. First, a continuous refinement of dermatoscopic terminology is undertaken, paying particular attention to the diagnostic performance of dermatoscopy at peculiar anatomical sites and to the building of different dermatoscopic algorithms aimed at a simplified diagnosis of melanoma, even for less experienced observers. Another point of interest concerns the possible role of dermatoscopy in the pre-operative assessment of melanoma thickness. Finally, promising data about the role of digital equipment in the follow up of melanocytic skin lesions as well as in the automated diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions have been recently reported. This paper should enable readers to become familiar with the procedure and terminology of ELM in the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions encouraging a greater understanding of different methods (pattern analysis, algorithms) in the diagnosis of melanoma using ELM.