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Scotti B, Vaccari S, Maltoni L, Robuffo S, Veronesi G, Dika E. Clinic and dermoscopy of genital basal cell carcinomas (gBCCs): a retrospective analysis among 169 patients referred with genital skin neoplasms. Arch Dermatol Res 2024; 316:307. [PMID: 38819453 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03068-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Biagio Scotti
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy.
| | - Sabina Vaccari
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Maltoni
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy
| | - Silvia Robuffo
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy
| | - Giulia Veronesi
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy
| | - Emi Dika
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy
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Longo C, Guida S, Mirra M, Pampena R, Ciardo S, Bassoli S, Casari A, Rongioletti F, Spadafora M, Chester J, Kaleci S, Lai M, Magi S, Mazzoni L, Farnetani F, Stanganelli I, Pellacani G. Dermatoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy for basal cell carcinoma diagnosis and diagnosis prediction score: A prospective and multicenter study on 1005 lesions. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024; 90:994-1001. [PMID: 38296197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is usually diagnosed by clinical and dermatoscopy examination, but diagnostic accuracy may be suboptimal. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging increases skin cancer diagnostic accuracy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate additional benefit in diagnostic accuracy of handheld RCM in a prospective controlled clinical setting. METHODS A prospective, multicenter study in 3 skin cancer reference centers in Italy enrolling consecutive lesions with clinical-dermatoscopic suspicion of BCC (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04789421). RESULTS A total of 1005 lesions were included, of which 474 histopathologically confirmed versus 531 diagnosed by clinical-dermatoscopic-RCM correlation, confirmed with 2 years of follow-up. Specifically, 740 were confirmed BCCs. Sensitivity and specificity for dermatoscopy alone was 93.2% (95% CI, 91.2-94.9) and 51.7% (95% CI, 45.5-57.9); positive predictive value was 84.4 (95% CI, 81.7-86.8) and negative predictive value 73.3 (95% CI, 66.3-79.5). Adjunctive RCM reported higher rates: 97.8 (95% CI, 96.5-98.8) sensitivity and 86.8 (95% CI, 82.1-90.6) specificity, with positive predictive value of 95.4 (95% CI, 93.6-96.8) and negative predictive value 93.5 (95% CI, 89.7-96.2). LIMITATIONS Study conducted in a single country. CONCLUSIONS Adjunctive handheld RCM assessment of lesions clinically suspicious for BCC permits higher diagnostic accuracy with minimal false negative lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Longo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Skin Cancer Center, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefania Guida
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Dermatology Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - Marica Mirra
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Skin Cancer Center, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pampena
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Skin Cancer Center, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Silvana Ciardo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sara Bassoli
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alice Casari
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Franco Rongioletti
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Dermatology Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spadafora
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Skin Cancer Center, Reggio Emilia, Italy; Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Chester
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Shaniko Kaleci
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Michela Lai
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Skin Cancer Center, Reggio Emilia, Italy; Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Serena Magi
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Skin Cancer Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Italy
| | - Laura Mazzoni
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Skin Cancer Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Italy
| | - Francesca Farnetani
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ignazio Stanganelli
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Skin Cancer Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pellacani
- Dermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Guan H, Yuan Q, Lv K, Qi Y, Jiang Y, Zhang S, Miao D, Wang Z, Lin J. Dermoscopy-based Radiomics Help Distinguish Basal Cell Carcinoma and Actinic Keratosis: A Large-scale Real-world Study Based on a 207-combination Machine Learning Computational Framework. J Cancer 2024; 15:3350-3361. [PMID: 38817855 PMCID: PMC11134443 DOI: 10.7150/jca.94759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
This study has used machine learning algorithms to develop a predictive model for differentiating between dermoscopic images of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and actinic keratosis (AK). We compiled a total of 904 dermoscopic images from two sources - the public dataset (HAM10000) and our proprietary dataset from the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University (DAYISET 1) - and subsequently categorised these images into four distinct cohorts. The study developed a deep learning model for quantitative analysis of image features and integrated 15 machine learning algorithms, generating 207 algorithmic combinations through random combinations and cross-validation. The final predictive model, formed by integrating XGBoost with Lasso regression, exhibited effective performance in the differential diagnosis of BCC and AK. The model demonstrated high sensitivity in the training set and maintained stable performance in three validation sets. The area under the curve (AUC) value reached 1.000 in the training set and an average of 0.695 in the validation sets. The study concludes that the constructed discriminative diagnostic model based on machine learning algorithms has excellent predictive capabilities that could enhance clinical decision-making efficiency, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and provide valuable guidance for further treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hewen Guan
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qihang Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Kejia Lv
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yushuo Qi
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuankuan Jiang
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Shumeng Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Dong Miao
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhiyi Wang
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jingrong Lin
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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Faldetta C, Kaleci S, Chester J, Ruini C, Ciardo S, Manfredini M, Guida S, Chello C, Cantisani C, Young JN, Cabral P, Gulati N, Guttman-Yassky E, Pellacani G, Farnetani F. Melanoma clinicopathological groups characterized and compared with dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024; 90:309-318. [PMID: 37988042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.09.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) correlations between morphologic groups of melanoma have not yet been described. OBJECTIVE Describe and compare dermoscopic and RCM features of cutaneous melanomas with histopathological confirmation. METHODS Single center, retrospective analysis of consecutive melanomas evaluated with RCM (2015-2019). Lesions were clinically classified as typical, nevus-like, amelanotic/nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC)-like, seborrheic keratosis (SK)-like and lentigo/lentigo maligna (LM)-like. Presence or absence of common facial and nonfacial melanoma dermoscopic and RCM patterns were recorded. Clusters were compared with typical lesions by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS Among 583 melanoma lesions, significant differences between clusters were evident (compared to typical lesions). Observation of dermoscopic features (>50% of lesions) in amelanotic/NMSC-like lesions consistently displayed 3 patterns (atypical network, atypical vascular pattern + regression structures), and nevus-like and SK-like lesions and lentigo/LM-like lesions consistently displayed 2 patterns (atypical network + regression structures, and nonevident follicles + heavy pigmentation intensity). Differences were less evident with RCM, as almost all lesions were consistent with melanoma diagnosis. LIMITATIONS Small SK-like lesions sample, single RCM analyses (no reproduction of outcome). CONCLUSION RCM has the potential to augment our ability to consistently and accurately diagnose melanoma independently of clinical and dermoscopic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Faldetta
- Dermatology Clinic, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Shaniko Kaleci
- Dermatology Clinic, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Chester
- Dermatology Clinic, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristel Ruini
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Dermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvana Ciardo
- Dermatology Clinic, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marco Manfredini
- Dermatology Clinic, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Stefania Guida
- School of Medicine Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Dermatologic Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Chello
- Dermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmen Cantisani
- Dermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jade N Young
- Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | - Giovanni Pellacani
- Dermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Alma A, Pongetti L, Clementi A, Chester J, Toccaceli M, Ciardo S, Zappia E, Manfredini M, Pellacani G, Greco M, Bennardo L, Farnetani F. Combined Carbon Dioxide Laser with Photodynamic Therapy for Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma Monitored by Reflectance Confocal Microscopy. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 60:30. [PMID: 38256291 PMCID: PMC10821002 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represents around 80% of all malignant skin cancers worldwide, constituting a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Due to excellent clearance rates (around 95%), surgery is the current gold-standard treatment. However, surgery is not always possible or preferred by patients. Numerous non-surgical therapies, sometimes combined, have been associated with promising tumor free survival rates (80-90%) in non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). Most research has enrolled superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCCs), with limited recent studies also involving low-risk nodular BCCs (nBCCs). Given lower efficacy rates compared to surgery, close monitoring during the follow-up period is essential for patients treated with non-surgical therapies. Monitoring with dermoscopy is constrained by low sensitivity rates. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is more sensitive in monitoring non-surgically treated NMSCs. Case presentation: A 41-year-old woman with a single nBCC relapse following photodynamic therapy (PDT) located on the dorsum of the nose presented to our center. Given the aesthetically sensitive location of the lesion and the patient's preference for a non-surgical approach, a combined treatment of CO2 laser and PDT was prescribed. A superpulsed CO2 laser (power: 0.5-3 W, frequency: 10 Hz, spot size 2 mm) with two PDT sessions (2 weeks apart) were conducted. At 6 weeks follow-up, monitoring performed with RCM revealed a reduction but not eradication of basaloid tumor islands. Another 2 sessions of PDT were recommended. At 3, 12 and 30 months of follow-up, the nasal dorsum area of the previous nBBC lesion was noted to be slightly hypopigmented (observed clinically), with a mild erythematous background (observed by dermoscopy). RCM evaluation confirmed the absence of RCM BCC criteria. The cosmetic outcome was very much improved. Conclusions: Combined CO2 laser and PDT for the treatment of a localized nBCC on the dorsum of the nose of a 41-year-old proved to offer tumor free survival at 30-month follow-up, as monitored with RCM. RCM is useful for the evaluation of non-surgical therapies as it has comparably higher sensitivity than dermoscopy and is especially useful in cases of suspected late recurrence. Further studies are needed to validate ongoing tumor free survival following this combined nonsurgical approach in the treatment of nBCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Alma
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Linda Pongetti
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Alessandro Clementi
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Johanna Chester
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Matteo Toccaceli
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Silvana Ciardo
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Elena Zappia
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Marco Manfredini
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Giovanni Pellacani
- Dermatology Clinic, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Greco
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Luigi Bennardo
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Francesca Farnetani
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (M.T.); (S.C.); (M.M.); (M.G.); (F.F.)
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Farhana A. Enhancing Skin Cancer Immunotheranostics and Precision Medicine through Functionalized Nanomodulators and Nanosensors: Recent Development and Prospects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3493. [PMID: 36834917 PMCID: PMC9959821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin cancers, especially melanomas, present a formidable diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the scientific community. Currently, the incidence of melanomas shows a high increase worldwide. Traditional therapeutics are limited to stalling or reversing malignant proliferation, increased metastasis, or rapid recurrence. Nonetheless, the advent of immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in treating skin cancers. Many state-of-art immunotherapeutic techniques, namely, active vaccination, chimeric antigen receptors, adoptive T-cell transfer, and immune checkpoint blockers, have achieved a considerable increase in survival rates. Despite its promising outcomes, current immunotherapy is still limited in its efficacy. Newer modalities are now being explored, and significant progress is made by integrating cancer immunotherapy with modular nanotechnology platforms to enhance its therapeutic efficacy and diagnostics. Research on targeting skin cancers with nanomaterial-based techniques has been much more recent than other cancers. Current investigations using nanomaterial-mediated targeting of nonmelanoma and melanoma cancers are directed at augmenting drug delivery and immunomodulation of skin cancers to induce a robust anticancer response and minimize toxic effects. Many novel nanomaterial formulations are being discovered, and clinical trials are underway to explore their efficacy in targeting skin cancers through functionalization or drug encapsulation. The focus of this review rivets on theranostic nanomaterials that can modulate immune mechanisms toward protective, therapeutic, or diagnostic approaches for skin cancers. The recent breakthroughs in nanomaterial-based immunotherapeutic modulation of skin cancer types and diagnostic potentials in personalized immunotherapies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Farhana
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Aljouf 72388, Saudi Arabia
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Assessment of Basal Cell Carcinoma Using Dermoscopy and High Frequency Ultrasound Examination. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12030735. [PMID: 35328289 PMCID: PMC8947530 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12030735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of cutaneous neoplasia in humans, and dermoscopy may provide valuable information for histopathological classification of BCC, which allows for the choice of non-invasive topical or surgical therapy. Similarly, dermoscopy may allow for the identification of incipient forms of BCC that cannot be detected in clinical examination. The importance of early diagnosis using the dermoscopy of superficial BCC forms is proven by the fact that despite their indolent clinical appearance, they can be included in high-risk BCC forms due to the rate of postoperative recurrence. Nodular pigmentary forms of BCCs present ovoid gray-blue nests or multiple gray-blue dots/globules associated with arborized vessels, sometimes undetectable on clinical examination. The management of BCC depends on this, as pigmentary forms have been shown to have a poor response to photodynamic therapy. High frequency ultrasound examination (HFUS) aids in the diagnosis of BCC with hypoechoic tumour masses, as well as in estimating tumour size (thickness and diameter), presurgical margin delineation, and surgical planning. The examination is also useful for determining the invasion of adjacent structures and for studying local recurrences. The use of dermoscopy in combination with HFUS allows for optimisation of the management of the oncological patient.
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