Periocular squamous cell carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid in northern latitudes, a 25-year experience in Finland

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence, clinical features, diagnostic challenges, management and prognosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid (ecSCC) in southern Finland, northern Europe, latitude 62° N.

METHODS

Patients were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry and the Helsinki University Hospital databases during a 25-year period (1998-2022). Age, sex, location, clinical and histopathological diagnosis, treatment and outcome were retrieved.

RESULTS

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid (ecSCC) was diagnosed in 58 patients. The mean age-standardized incidence was 1.03 per 100 000. Median age at the time of histopathological diagnosis was 79 (range 55-93) years; sex ratio was 0.52. Clinical diagnosis in the referral was ecSCC in only three patients. The most frequent misdiagnosis (38%) was basal cell carcinoma (BCC). One or more of the known risk factors (smoking, history of extensive sun exposure, systemic immunosuppression and previous in situ cSCC/cSCC) were documented in 71% of the patients. More than one third (38%) of the patients developed in situ SCC elsewhere on the skin; one third (31%) of the patients had invasive cSCC elsewhere. During the median follow-up time of 24 months, three patients experienced local recurrence, four patients developed metastatic disease (median 19 months) and two patients died of metastatic ecSCC.

CONCLUSION

The estimated incidence of ecSCC in Finland (predominantly white Caucasian) was higher than in a previous study from Europe. Clinical diagnosis of ecSCC is difficult and often misdiagnosed as BCC. Immunosuppression as a risk factor should noticed. Recurrences of ecSCC, which may be lethal, were infrequent.

Metastasis of skin squamous cell carcinoma in kidney transplant recipients

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common skin malignancy in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) as a result of immunosuppression. A worldwide increase in kidney transplantation justifies the determination of prognostic biomarkers by collecting detailed patient data on metastasis development. This study aims to characterize the clinical, epidemiological, and histopathological profiles of KTRs who developed metastasis of cSCC. We conducted a retrospective single-center study on 18 KTRs and 21 immunocompetent patients (ICs) with metastatic cSCC, using data from 2004 to 2021. ICs were older (median age 70.5 years) than KTRs (median age: 59.5 years). Both groups were predominantly male with Fitzpatrick skin phototype I/II. The primary tumor appeared around 83.5 months post-transplant, usually in sun-exposed areas (61.1%), though some non-exposed areas in ICs (23.8%) contradicted literature findings. KTRs took longer to develop metastasis (median: 11.0 months) compared to ICs (median: 5.5 months). The mean size of the primary tumor was smaller in KTRs (2.50 cm2) compared to ICs (4.55 cm2). The main lymph node chain affected by metastasis was parotid lymph nodes in KTRs (27.8%) and cervical/axillar lymph nodes in ICs (both 19.0%). Both groups exhibited similar primary tumor grades and metastasis evolution, but KTRs had a higher prevalence of lymphovascular invasion. Metastasis of cSCC was more common in males with low skin phototype, in KTRs, particularly on the head and neck. The study suggests a possible link between lymphovascular invasion and metastasis development in KTRs.

Diagnosis and treatment of malignant eyelid tumors

BACKGROUND

Malignant tumors of the eyelid are much less frequent than benign eyelid alterations. These are frequently incidental findings without symptoms which are often overlooked or misinterpreted by patients.

OBJECTIVE

This article gives an overview of clinical aspects, diagnostics and treatment of the five most common malignant eyelid tumors and exemplarily explains the essential principles of evidence-based treatment of malignant eyelid tumors.

METHODS

This narrative review was prepared based on a selective literature search. The depiction of the treatment of eyelid tumors is supported by illustrations of clinical cases.

RESULTS

The medical history and inspection provide initial indications of malignancy. Every eyelid change suspected of being malignant should be examined histologically to confirm a diagnosis. By far the most common malignant eyelid tumor in Europe is basal cell carcinoma, which metastasizes only in exceptional cases. Squamous cell carcinomas, sebaceous adenocarcinomas, melanomas and Merkel cell carcinomas occur much less frequently. In these cases, potential metastasis in particular must be considered when making the diagnosis and staging has to be initiated. Surgical excision into healthy tissue with tumor-free margins is the gold standard for malignant eyelid tumors. Non-surgical adjuvant or neoadjuvant forms of evidence-based treatment can be initiated based on the individual case to minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to recognize eyelid changes at an early stage, to classify them correctly and to initiate the appropriate treatment. The interaction between the general condition and the personal needs of a patient as well as state of the art medicine are the keys to a good personalized treatment.

Targeted therapy and immunotherapy for orbital and periorbital tumors: a major review

Traditionally, for patients who are poor candidates for surgery and/or radiotherapy, palliative chemotherapy is often offered but with significant toxic side effects. However, recent advancements in our understanding of tumor biology and molecular genetics have brought new understanding to the molecular pathways of certain tumors and cancers. This has ushered in a new era of precision medicine specific to a tumor or cancer treatment pathway (targeted therapy) or directed to host-tumor responses (immunotherapy). This article will focus on recent updates in the application of available targeted and immunotherapy for managing orbital and periorbital tumors and tumor-like conditions, which include cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, solitary fibrous tumor, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, orbital meningioma, neurofibromatosis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, ocular adnexal lymphoma, orbital lymphatic malformation, and adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Recommendations for risk stratification of periocular squamous cell carcinoma

Periocular squamous cell carcinoma is a common cutaneous malignancy with generally favorable outcomes; however, the periocular region is intrinsically a high-risk location, and there exist a subset of lesions with a propensity for poor outcomes. Orbital invasion, intracranial perineural spread, nodal and distant metastasis are feared complications. There are several staging systems for eyelid carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, but the definition of high-risk lesions remains heterogeneous. It is unclear exactly which lesions can be safely deescalated, and which require nodal evaluation and adjuvant multimodal therapy. We seek to answer these questions by summarizing the literature on clinicopathologic variables, molecular markers, and gene profiling tests in periocular squamous cell carcinoma, with the extrapolation of data from the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma literature. Standardized pathology reports with information on tumor dimensions, histological subtype and grade, perineural invasion, and lymphovascular invasion should become uniform. Integration with gene expression profiling assessments will individualize and improve the predictive accuracy of risk stratification tools to ultimately inform multidisciplinary decision-making.

[Diagnosis and treatment of malignant eyelid tumors]

BACKGROUND

Malignant tumors of the eyelid are much less frequent than benign eyelid alterations. These are frequently incidental findings without symptoms which are often overlooked or misinterpreted by patients.

OBJECTIVE

This article gives an overview of clinical aspects, diagnostics and treatment of the five most common malignant eyelid tumors and exemplarily explains the essential principles of evidence-based treatment of malignant eyelid tumors.

METHODS

This narrative review was prepared based on a selective literature search. The depiction of the treatment of eyelid tumors is supported by illustrations of clinical cases.

RESULTS

The medical history and inspection provide initial indications of malignancy. Every eyelid change suspected of being malignant should be examined histologically to confirm a diagnosis. By far the most common malignant eyelid tumor in Europe is basal cell carcinoma, which metastasizes only in exceptional cases. Squamous cell carcinomas, sebaceous adenocarcinomas, melanomas and Merkel cell carcinomas occur much less frequently. In these cases, potential metastasis in particular must be considered when making the diagnosis and staging has to be initiated. Surgical excision into healthy tissue with tumor-free margins is the gold standard for malignant eyelid tumors. Non-surgical adjuvant or neoadjuvant forms of evidence-based treatment can be initiated based on the individual case to minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to recognize eyelid changes at an early stage, to classify them correctly and to initiate the appropriate treatment. The interaction between the general condition and the personal needs of a patient as well as state of the art medicine are the keys to a good personalized treatment.

A joinpoint and age-period-cohort analysis of ocular cancer secular trends in Iran from 2004 to 2016

Investigating secular trends of ocular cancer registration in Iran. After acquiring Iranian national population-based cancer registry data, trends of age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) of ocular cancers and annual percent changes (APC) between 2004 and 2016 were analysed in age groups, gender, topography and morphology types with joinpoint regression analysis. Age, period, and cohort effects on incidence rates were estimated by age-period-cohort model. Geographic distribution of ASIR was assessed using GIS. Overall ASIR of ocular cancers was 16.04/100,000 (95% CI 15.77-16.32). Joinpoint regression analysis showed a significant increase of ASIR between 2004 and 2009 for males (APC = 5.5, 95% CI  0.9-10.2), ages over 50 years (APC = 5.2, 1.2-9.4), skin/canthus/adnexal cancers (APC = 4.2, 0.8-7.7), and carcinomas/adenocarcinomas (APC = 4.3, 0.6-8.1); however, between 2009 and 2016 a declining trend was observed in all investigated variables. ASIR of retinoblastoma was significantly increased (averaged APC = 20.7, 9-33.7) between 2004 and 2016. age-period-cohort analyses showed that incidence rates of ocular cancers significantly increased with aging, time periods, and birth cohort effects (p < 0.001). ASIR varied from 6.7/100,000 to 21.7/100,000 in Iran. Excepting retinoblastoma, all ocular cancer incidence trends were downward over a 13-year period; however, it was increasing between 2004 and 2009 cancer. ASIR was significant aging in Iran.

Prognostic role of perineural invasion in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The prognostic role of perineural invasion (PNI) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) has not been fully established since few studies on this topic are currently available in the literature. In the present study, we conducted a systematic review and metanalysis of literature data in order to determine if PNI could be an independent prognostic predictor of patient's survival in VSCC. Four electronic databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar) were searched from their inception to December 2021 for all studies assessing the prognostic value of PNI in VSCC. Multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were pooled. Six studies with 1048 patients were included. PNI was significantly associated with decreased OS (HR = 2.687; p < 0.001), DSS (HR = 2.375; p = 0.014) and PFS (HR = 1.757; p = 0.001), with no statistical heterogeneity among studies and no significant risk of bias across studies. The present meta-analysis highlights that PNI is independently associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with VSCC. Therefore, PNI should be included in the pathological report of VSCC and considered in combination with other risk factors as a possible criteria for prognostic assessment adjuvant treatment planning inclusion.

Perineural invasion and perineural spread in periocular squamous cell carcinoma

Perineural invasion (PNI) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the periocular region is a prognostic marker of adverse tumour outcomes. PNI carries a well-established risk of tumour recurrence, regional metastasis and higher likelihood of mortality. This review will explore and stratify the risks conferred by histological PNI parameters. The radiological features of perineural spread (PNS) and the imaging sequences that delineate these findings will also be highlighted. Surgical excision with en face margin control is the preferred technique for achieving histological clearance. Adjuvant radiotherapy improves treatment outcomes in the setting of concomitant high-risk features. For locally advanced or metastatic cutaneous SCC, immunotherapy represents a novel treatment alternative. This review will provide an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of periocular SCC with PNI and PNS.

A new systematic model for analysis and a hybrid fuzzy multimodality model for lung tumor prediction

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly occurring diseases that ranked in the top of the present survey. Advancements in the medical field enable non-invasive methods of computerised diagnosis procedures and detection processes. Deep learning methods are already in evaluation by keeping the deep analysis on improving segmentation accuracy and prediction accuracy etc. The classification of tumour type depends on the quality of segmentation work and feature mappings. In this paper, we developed a robust model that classifies the types of tumours with improved accuracy but is also capable of detecting the early stages of cancer by detecting the unique hidden points of the image intensity in the lung images, etc. The system is comprised of a novel relative convergence technique for feature extraction technique to extract the infected area and its characteristic pixels to evaluate a unique feature mapping vector. The MSB feature mapping vectors are analysed with Hybrid Regress Fuzzy Net. The final result on whether a tumour is present in the CT image or normal depends on the three individual decisions made by the three algorithms mentioned. The accuracy of each algorithm is also considered for the probable decision-making. The performance measure of the entire proposed Hybrid Regress Net is evaluated through Accuracy, Precision, Recall and F1Score etc.

Narrow excision margins are appropriate for Merkel cell carcinoma when combined with adjuvant radiation: Analysis of 188 cases of localized disease and proposed management algorithm

BACKGROUND

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) management typically includes surgery with or without adjuvant radiation therapy (aRT). Major challenges include determining surgical margin size and whether aRT is indicated.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of aRT, surgical margin size, and MCC local recurrence.

METHODS

Analysis of 188 MCC cases presenting without clinical nodal involvement.

RESULTS

aRT-treated patients tended to have higher-risk tumors (larger diameter, positive microscopic margins, immunosuppression) yet had fewer local recurrences (LRs) than patients treated with surgery only (1% vs 15%; P = .001). For patients who underwent surgery alone, 7 of 35 (20%) treated with narrow margins (defined as ≤1.0 cm) developed LR, whereas 0 of 13 patients treated with surgical margins greater than 1.0 cm developed LR (P = .049). For aRT-treated patients, local control was excellent regardless of surgical margin size; only 1% experienced recurrence in each group (1 of 70 with narrow margins ≤1 cm and 1 of 70 with margins >1 cm; P = .56).

LIMITATIONS

This was a retrospective study.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients treated with aRT, local control was superb even if significant risk factors were present and margins were narrow. We propose an algorithm for managing primary MCC that integrates risk factors and optimizes local control while minimizing morbidity.

Nomogram for Preoperative Estimation of Orbit Invasion Risk in Periocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Importance: Orbital invasion occurs in some periocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), compromising surgical outcomes, and prognoses of patients. To date, however, there are no validation studies on the clinical features related to orbital invasion in patients with periocular SCC.

Objective: To explore clinical features that may be associated with orbital invasion and build a model for predicting the risk of orbital invasion.

Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective mono-center case-control study, 90 patients with periocular SCC were treated at the Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2005 to August 2019. “Case” is defined as a SCC patient with orbit invasion prior to operation. “Exposure” is defined as the different sites of lesion.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Clinical features, including “time to relapse after surgery,” were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the independent risk clinical features associated with orbital invasion, which was then incorporated into a nomogram.

Results: Of the 90 patients included in this study, 33 patients (36.7%) had orbital invasion. 14 of the 33 orbit-invasive patients had local recurrence, while 11 of 57 orbit non-invasive patients had local recurrence, suggesting that orbital invasion is a risk factor for local recurrence. The multivariate binary logistic regression indicated that the lesions at the medial canthus [odds ratio (OR), 5.024, 95% CI, 1.409–17.912, P = 0.013], the age at diagnosis (10-years intervals; OR, 0.590, 95% CI, 0.412–0.844, P = 0.004), and bleeding in the lesion (OR, 3.480, 95% CI, 1.254–9.660, P = 0.017) were three preoperative clinical features significantly associated with orbital invasion.

Conclusion: For periocular SCC, lesions at the medial canthus, the younger age of the patients at diagnosis, and bleeding in the lesion were the three main clinical features associated with orbital invasion. The risk score model for orbital invasion can act as a supportive tool for optimized clinical evaluation and treatment decisions.

Validation Study of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition, Staging System for Eyelid and Periocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Importance

To our knowledge, there are no validation studies to date of the prognostic value of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, eighth edition (AJCC 8), criteria for eyelid and periocular squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective

To determine the association of tumor (T) category in AJCC 8 with local recurrence, nodal metastasis, distant metastasis, and disease-specific survival (DSS) for eyelid and periocular squamous cell carcinoma.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this retrospective, single-center cohort study, 109 consecutive patients with eyelid and periocular squamous cell carcinoma treated from January 1999 to April 2018 were included. Patients with secondary involvement of the periocular region were excluded.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Local recurrence, nodal metastasis, distance metastasis, and DSS.

Results

Of the 109 included patients, 81 (74.3%) were male, and the median (range) age was 66 (40-91) years. At presentation, 43 patients (39.4%) had recurrent tumor, 4 (3.7%) had nodal metastasis, and 1 (0.9%) had distant metastasis. The median (range) follow-up was 23 (1-161) months. During follow-up, 11 patients (10.1%) developed local recurrence, 7 (6.4%) developed nodal metastasis, 2 (1.8%) developed distant metastasis, and 9 (8.3%) died of disease. The 5-year DSS rate was 87.7% (95% CI, 79.5-96.9). Chronic immunosuppression (hazard ratio, 47.24; 95% CI, 7.33-304.30; P < .001) and presentation with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (hazard ratio, 5.22; 95% CI, 1.12-24.31; P = .04) were associated with local recurrence during follow-up. Of the 11 patients with local recurrence during follow-up, 7 (64%) had perineural invasion. T category was associated with nodal metastasis; clinical stage of T2c or worse at presentation was associated with higher risk of nodal metastasis and death of disease but not with a higher risk of local recurrence. Distant metastasis was associated with nodal metastasis at presentation (hazard ratio, 32.50; 95% CI, 1.97-536.40; P = .02) and during follow-up. A total of 33 patients (30.3%) had different T categories depending on whether disease was staged according to the seventh or eighth edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. Compared with AJCC 7, AJCC 8 showed a better predictive value in terms of local recurrence (T3, 17% vs 14%; T4, 11% vs 16%) and DSS.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that T category in AJCC 8 is associated with nodal metastasis and DSS. Immunosuppression and presentation with recurrent disease are associated with increased risk of future local recurrence. Patients with tumors of clinical stage T2c or worse at presentation are at increased risk of nodal metastasis and worse DSS and should undergo surveillance for nodal metastasis. Future studies, ideally prospective in design, could provide greater confidence in these findings.

Factors related to survival outcomes following orbital exenteration: a retrospective, comparative, case series

BACKGROUND

Orbital exenteration is a disfiguring procedure that aims to achieve local control. It is commonly a part of the management of malignant orbital tumor which is a life-threatening condition. It is necessary to determine predictive factors associated with overall survival (OS) following orbital exenteration.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, comparative, case series of 39 patients with malignant tumors who underwent orbital exenteration. Patient records were reviewed for age, clinical presentation, preoperative visual acuity (VA), tumor size, surgical margin, tumor invasiveness, recurrent disease, and status of distant metastasis. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess OS and event-free survival (EFS). The predictive factors related to OS were identified using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age was 62.9 years (range, 5.5 to 89.7 years), 68.4% presented with VA < 20/400. The mean size of all tumors was 32 ± 18 mm. Distant metastasis at diagnosis was reported in 11 patients (28.2%). Twenty-two patients died during follow-up. The median OS and EFS were 3.89 years and 3.01 years, respectively. The predictive factors for worse OS on multivariate analysis were preoperative VA < 20/400 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 4.67, P = 0.003), tumor size larger than 20 mm (aHR 3.14, P = 0.022,) and positive distant metastasis at diagnosis (aHR 15.31, P <  0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic factors for poor survival outcome following orbital exenteration were a preoperative VA < 20/400, tumor size > 20 mm, and distant metastasis at diagnosis mostly due to patient negligence.

Elusively reaching the apex

A 64-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of diplopia and left-sided proptosis. Examination was significant for impairment of his left second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh cranial nerves. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left orbital apex and cavernous sinus lesion. However, subtle thickening of his left frontal and supraorbital nerve was not identified until later. A trial of steroids provided minimal effect. Biopsy of the lesion showed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was subsequently managed with palliative radiotherapy.

Orbital exenteration for advanced periorbital non-melanoma skin cancer: prognostic factors and survival

PurposeTo describe prognostic factors and survival outcomes in patients who underwent orbital exenteration for periocular non-melanoma cutaneous malignancies.MethodsThe authors performed an institutional review board-approved retrospective review of all patients who underwent orbital exenteration for non-melanoma periocular cutaneous malignancies at a tertiary care hospital system over a 10-year period. Patient demographics, tumor, and treatment data were recorded. Survival outcomes included disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Log-rank tests were used to test for difference in survival curves among various potential prognostic indicators, and multivariate analysis was performed using Cox's proportional hazards model.ResultsForty-nine patients with an average age of 70.3 years were followed with a median follow-up of 17.5 months. At 2 years the OS was 78% while the DFS was 61%. The mean DFS for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC) were 52.6, 39.2 and 28.1 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only positive final surgical margin was predictive of worse outcome (P=0.002). Recurrences were most frequent in the first 2 years.ConclusionsDespite the relatively more aggressive nature of periocular malignancies that have invaded the orbit, orbital exenteration offers an overall 2-year DFS of ~60%. BCC had the greatest mean survival time, however this was not statistically significant. We found worse prognosis with positive final surgical margins and recommend a multidisciplinary surgical approach to achieve complete resection when indicated.

Successful Treatment of Extensive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Conjunctiva and Upper Eyelid Skin With Topical Therapy Alone

This study reports a case of extensive periocular squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva, extending into the superior fornix, over the upper eyelid margin, and involving the superficial layers of the eyelid skin up to the eyebrow, that was successfully treated solely with topical therapy.

Perineural Spread of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Manifesting as Ophthalmoplegia

An 89-year-old female presented with horizontal diplopia and was diagnosed with VI nerve palsy attributed to a microvascular event. She subsequently progressed to develop an orbital apex syndrome, with neuroimaging demonstrating tumour invasion. Eighteen months earlier, she had squamous cell carcinoma of the forehead excised with clear margins. Intraneural and perineural spread of squamous carcinoma from the face to the cranial cavity is an important cause of delayed cranial nerve palsies after local excision of the skin tumour.

Management of squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas of the head and neck with perineural invasion

Perineural invasion (PNI) occurring in non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) is associated with an increased risk of locoregional recurrence and reduced disease-free survival. This necessitates early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate risk-stratification and a clear management strategy. The diagnosis of PNI is based on careful clinical assessment, imaging and histopathology. Surgery, preferably with margin control, and definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) are established treatment strategies for PNI. Clinical uncertainty remains over the role of ART in incidental PNI. This review synthesises current literature to ascertain which clinicopathological features impart a higher risk to individuals with PNI in NMSC, in order to provide treatment algorithms, including the identification of patient subsets that are most likely to benefit from ART. This includes those with extratumoural PNI, involvement of larger-calibre nerves, tumour invasion beyond dermis, recurrent tumour or diffuse intratumoural spread. Patients with clinical PNI may be optimally managed by a multidisciplinary head and neck cancer service that is best placed to offer skull base surgery and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The management options presented are stratified by histological subtype and a new classification of PNI into low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk groups.

Perineural invasion as a prognostic factor for cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent observational studies have reported that perineural invasion (PNI) may be a negative prognostic factor in cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to systematically analyse the effect of PNI on overall survival and disease-free survival.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The PubMed and Cochrane clinical trials databases were searched for articles with publication dates up to September 2013.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Retrospective observational studies with survival analysis for perineural invasion after radical hysterectomy plus lymphadenectomy of cervical cancer were selected.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Trial characteristics and outcomes and quality measures based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) were independently extracted. The overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with PNI were measured using a hazard ratio (HR) for time to event outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

The meta-analysis of these studies demonstrated that cervical cancer with PNI was associated with a lower overall survival rate (HR 2.21, 95 % CI 1.36-3.59, P = 0.001). Although the disease-free survival was lower in the PNI group (HR 1.35, 95 % CI 0.78-2.31, P = 0.28), the results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Patients with PNI-positive cervical cancer have a poor overall survival rate; therefore, we can conclude that perineural invasion (PNI) is an adverse prognostic factor in cervical cancer. Based on these results, PNI should be an independent prognostic factor for cervical cancer and the decision to proceed with adjuvant therapy after surgery.

Topical therapies for periorbital cutaneous malignancies: indications and treatment regimens

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To present a brief review of periorbital cutaneous tumorogenesis, highlighting the steps which might be amenable to topical treatments and then discuss the use of topical agents in the management of periorbital skin malignancy.

RECENT FINDINGS

A rapid expansion in the understanding of the pathogenesis of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer has allowed the development of a number of topical agents targeting specific tumor-forming processes. Topical agents have been shown to be effective in the management of periorbital skin malignancy.

SUMMARY

5-Fluorouracil and imiquimod have established roles in the management of periorbital skin malignancy. Newer agents such as ingenol mebutate, tazarotene, and diclofenac gel probably have evolving roles that require further research but show promise.

Ophthalmic manifestations and histopathology of xeroderma pigmentosum: two clinicopathological cases and a review of the literature

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare, autosomal recessive disease caused by a defect in DNA repair. Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum often have cutaneous and ocular sun sensitivity, freckle-like skin pigmentation, multiple skin and eye cancers, and, in some patients, progressive neurodegeneration. Xeroderma pigmentosum predominantly affects the ultraviolet (UV) exposed ocular surface, resulting in eyelid atrophy and cancers, corneal dryness, exposure keratopathy, and conjunctival tumors. We report the clinical history and ocular pathology of two white women who had xeroderma pigmentosum with neurological degeneration: Case 1 (died at age 44 years) and Case 2 (died at age 45 years). Case 1, with mutations in the XPA gene, had more than 180 basal cell carcinomas of her skin and eyelids and died from complications of neurodegeneration. Case 2, with mutations in the XPD gene, was sun-protected and had three skin cancers. She died from complications of neurodegeneration and pneumonia. Both patients had bilateral pinguecula, corneal pannus, and exposure keratopathy. Case 1 had bilateral optic atrophy, and Case 2 had bilateral peripheral retinal pigmentary degeneration. Both patients developed retinal gliosis. The ophthalmic manifestations and pathology of xeroderma pigmentosum are discussed and reviewed with respect to this report and other cases in the literature. These cases illustrate the role of DNA repair in protection of the eyes from UV damage and neurodegeneration of the retina.

Perineural invasion in carcinoma of the cervix uteri--prognostic impact

PURPOSE

Limited information exists about the occurrence and the impact of perineural invasion (PNI) in patients with cervical carcinoma (CX).

METHODS

The original histologic slides from patients primarily treated by radical hysterectomy and systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy were re-examined regarding the occurrence of PNI. PNI was correlated to recurrence free (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

35.1% of all patients (68/194) represented perineural invasion (=PNI). The 5-year-overall-survival-rate was significantly decreased in patients representing PNI, when they were compared with those without PNI (51.1% [95% CI 38.0-64.2] vs. 75.6% [95% CI 67.8-83.4]; p = 0.001). In a separate analysis the prognostic impact persisted in the node negative, but disappeared in the node-positive cases. In multivariate analysis, pelvic lymph node involvement and PNI were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Perineural invasion is seen in about one-third of patients with cervical carcinoma. Patients affected by PNI represented a decreased overall survival. Further studies are required to get a deeper insight into the clinical impact and the pathogenetic mechanisms of PNI in CX.

Clinicopathological features of eyelid skin tumors. A retrospective study of 5504 cases and review of literature

Eyelid tumors are the most common neoplasm in daily ophthalmology practice and encompass a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors. In this retrospective study, we report the clinical and histological features of 5504 eyelid skin tumors diagnosed at the Laboratory of Ophthalmopathology of the Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland, between January 1989 and December 2007. Benign tumors largely predominated over malignant ones, representing 84% of cases in this series, and the 5 most frequent subtypes were squamous cell papilloma (26%), seborrheic keratosis (21%), melanocytic nevus (20%), hidrocystoma (8%), and xanthoma/xanthelasma (6%). Basal cell carcinoma was the most frequent malignant tumor (86%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (7%) and sebaceous carcinoma (3%). For several tumor subtypes, there was a poor correlation between clinical and histological diagnosis, stressing the numerous pitfalls in the diagnosis of eyelid tumors. We further discuss our results with reference to previously published series.

The clinical usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of lymph node metastasis in periorbital malignancies

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical role of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of lymph node metastasis in periorbital malignancies, compared with CT alone.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed eighteen PET/CT and CT scans in 15 patients with biopsy-proven periorbital malignancies. We compared the diagnostic capabilities of PET/CT and CT with regard to nodal metastasis by level-by-level analysis and by N staging prediction. The reference standards were surgical pathology (n = 7) from dissected lymph node specimens and the results from radiological follow-up (n = 11, mean 20.5 months; range 10-52 months). Moreover, any changes in patient care as prompted by PET/CT were recorded and compared with treatment planning for CT alone.

Results

PET/CT had a sensitivity of 100%, while CT had a sensitivity of 57% (p = 0.03) for nodal metastasis by level-by-level analysis. PET/CT had a specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 93%, negative predictive value of 100%, and diagnostic accuracy of 98%, while the CT values for these same parameters were 97%, 89%, 82%, and 84%, respectively. PET/CT correctly predicted N staging with an accuracy of 100%, while CT was only 83% accurate (p = 0.01). Regarding the impact on patient care, the extent of surgery for regional lymph nodes and the treatment decision were modified by PET/CT in 39% of patients.

Conclusion

PET/CT could provide useful information in the management of regional lymph node metastases in patients with periorbital malignancies.

Clinicopathological study of 21 cases of eyelid actinic keratosis

BACKGROUND

Actinic keratosis (AK) is an intraepidermal malignancy precursor form of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which generally occurs in fair-skinned individuals with long-term sun exposure. We present a case series of AKs on the eyelid.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. Data of patients seen from 1994 to 2005 were used in the analyses.

RESULTS

There were 21 cases of eyelid AKs in 18 patients, 11 men, and seven women, with a mean age of 70 (range 43-80) years. Most tumors were located on the upper eyelid. The mean size was 0.8 +/- 0.4 cm. The most frequent AK type was type I (76.2%). Men had bigger lesions and more frequent free-margin eyelid involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

In our series, tumors were more frequent and had worse clinical and histopathological features in men. AKs are closely related to SCC and need to be removed before they turn into SCC. They can be safely and effectively removed, and therapy is therefore warranted.