Skin malignant melanoma is a highly angiogenic cancer, necessitating early diagnosis for positive prognosis. The current diagnostic standard of biopsy and histological examination inevitably leads to many unnecessary invasive excisions. Here, we propose a non-invasive method of identification of melanoma based on blood flow dynamics. We consider a wide frequency range from 0.005–2 Hz associated with both local vascular regulation and effects of cardiac pulsation. Combining uniquely the power of oscillations associated with individual physiological processes we obtain a marker which distinguishes between melanoma and atypical nevi with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90.9%. The method reveals valuable functional information about the melanoma microenvironment. It also provides the means for simple, accurate, in vivo distinction between malignant melanoma and atypical nevi and may lead to a substantial reduction in the number of biopsies currently undertaken.

Pyogenic granulomas are common, acquired, benign vascular lesions of the skin and mucous membranes that can develop both spontaneously and traumatically. We present a unique case of a four-year healthy, uncircumcised boy with multiple pyogenic granuloma on the mucous face of the penis foreskin. Although penile multiple pyogenic granulomas have previously been described in adults, there are no reports of similar problems in children. In this patient, the pathogenesis of the lesions is probably trauma related as reported in the anamnesis. Therapeutic options are discussed.

PURPOSE:Although most Leydig cell tumors are benign, radical orchiectomy is currently considered the standard therapy. We retrospectively analyzed the long-term followup of a series of patients with Leydig cell tumors electively treated with testis sparing surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Between November 1990 and December 2005, 17 consecutive patients with Leydig cell tumors underwent testis sparing surgery on an elective basis. Preoperative evaluation included physical examination, serum markers for germ cell tumors, scrotal ultrasound, abdominal computerized tomography, chest x-ray and hormonal profile if clinically required. Testis sparing surgery was performed via an inguinal approach with spermatic cord clamping. Frozen section examination was performed in all cases, revealing Leydig cell tumors. Followup consisted of physical examination, scrotal ultrasound, abdominal computerized tomography and chest x-ray every 6 months for the first 2 years, then annually. Tumor recurrence and survival were evaluated. RESULTS:Mean patient age was 41.6 years (range 28 to 55). Medical referral was prompted by symptoms/signs such as infertility, gynecomastia or self-palpation of scrotal mass in 11 patients (64.7%), while in the remaining 6 (35.3%) the lesions were incidentally diagnosed. Hormonal profile was performed in 9 patients, showing abnormalities in all. Mean tumor diameter was 13.4 mm (range 5 to 31). Definitive pathological examination confirmed benign Leydig cell tumor in all cases. After a mean followup of 91 months (range 12 to 192), neither local recurrence nor distant metastases have been detected and all patients are alive without evidence of disease. CONCLUSIONS:In patients with Leydig cell tumors testis sparing surgery with frozen section examination provides an excellent long-term oncological outcome.

Background: There is considerable evidence that apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of skin diseases. Apoptosis failure may ensure the survival of transformed cells prone to sustain further genetic damage and it plays an important part in the development of tumors. Genetic alterations of Fas and p53, with consequent inactivation of gene protein products, may be involved in transcriptional downregulation of Fas. Objective: We investigated Fas and its ligand expression in 30 cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer, 19 basal cell and 11 squamous cell carcinomas, and we also analyzed Fas and p53 status, in an attempt to detect putative alterations. Method: Fas and its ligand expression were evaluated by RT-PCR; the promoter and the entire coding region of Fas, and the coding exons 4–9 of p53 were investigated by polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism, and DNA sequencing. Results: Fas alterations were found in 3/19 (15.8%) basal cell and in 4/11 (36.4%) squamous cell carcinomas. Five out of 25 cases (3/19 basal cell and 2/11 squamous cell carcinomas) were p53-mutated, and in the majority of these cases there were concomitant mutations of the Fas gene (χ 2 test; p = 0.035). Conclusion: Taken together, our findings highlight an involvement of the Fas/Fas-ligand system in the development of skin cancer, suggesting that the loss of its apoptotic function, in some cases linked to p53 alterations, may contribute to the self-maintenance of cancer cells.

Lichen myxedematosus is a rare disease that is characterized by the formation of lichenoid papules and plaques. Histologic examination shows deposition of mucinous material in the dermis. We report the case of a patient with cutaneous and systemic involvement and examine the clinical and postmortem data.