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Tag: Melanoma
This month, I was fascinated to read a meta-analysis of the accuracy of computer-aided melanoma diagnosis, by Vincent Dick et al.
Continue reading “[2 min read] Accuracy of computer-aided melanoma diagnosis | Prof David Wilkinson”
In this month’s skin cancer update video, Professor Giuseppe Argenziano talks about an interesting patient case that demonstrates the importance of performing an examination of the entire skin surface – even if the patient is only concerned about one particular lesion – and highlights how dermoscopy can both enhance and change our understandings of lesions in the clinical setting. Continue reading “[2 min watch] Skin Cancer Update with Prof Giuseppe Argenziano [July 2019]”
Researchers have identified compounds that starve melanoma cells of energy. Scientists at Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University have found a possible way of beating the drug resistance of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. Continue reading “[4 min read] Compounds found that starve melanoma cells of energy”
This is the Bob Marley story. Passionate about skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment, HealthCert shares this story every time we teach about melanoma.
Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician, and considered one of the pioneers of reggae. He died in 1981 aged 36 from a melanoma that started under his big toenail in 1977. Continue reading “[4 min read] The Bob Marley melanoma story”
How do you determine first-line treatment for your patients with melanoma? Treatment decisions for advanced melanoma are increasingly complex and guidelines provide limited advice on how to choose between immunotherapy and targeted therapy for first-line treatment. A Delphi study was carried out to understand which patient characteristics and disease-related factors inform clinicians’ choices of first-line treatment for BRAF-mutated melanoma.
Continue reading “[5 min read] First-line treatment decisions for BRAF-mutated melanoma”
In this month’s skin cancer update video, Professor Giuseppe Argenziano continues his two-part discussion from last month about the role of Imiquimod in the treatment of lentigo maligna. Using real patient case examples, Giuseppe discusses Imiquimod in an adjuvant setting, including how it can be applied in a clinical setting after surgery has been performed. Continue reading “[4 min watch] Skin Cancer Update with Prof Giuseppe Argenziano [June 2019]”
This month’s research article is from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia. The authors consider the important question: what is the risk of melanoma recurrences among patients with a high-risk, localised melanoma? Continue reading “[3 min read] Risk of recurrence in patients with high-risk, localised melanoma”
In this month’s skin cancer update video, Professor Giuseppe Argenziano talks about the role of Imiquimod in the treatment of primary melanoma. Using real patient case examples, Giuseppe describes the context in which Imiquimod can be utilised and the type of results physicians can expect. Continue reading “[3 min watch] Skin Cancer Update with Prof Giuseppe Argenziano [May 2019]”
Do phenotypic characteristics and pattern of UV radiation exposure differ according to body site of melanoma? A study investigated the association between phenotypic characteristics, pattern of UV radiation exposure, and risk of melanoma on different body sites. Continue reading “[6 min read] Phenotypic characteristics, pattern of UV exposure, and melanoma risk on different body sites”
A study conducted in 2004 assessed the rate of skin cancer in a cohort of paediatric organ transplant recipients. Five to 16 years post-transplantation, none of the participants had developed skin cancer. Researchers have now re-evaluated the same cohort 10 years later to determine the prevalence of pre-malignant and malignant skin lesions and to identify the known risk factors associated with melanocytic naevi in a paediatric organ transplant population in the UK.
All 98 paediatric organ transplant recipients from the original 2004 study were invited to participate in the longitudinal follow-up study. History of sun exposure, demographics and transplantation details were collected using face‐to‐face interviews, questionnaires and case note reviews. Skin examination was performed for regional count of malignant lesions, benign and atypical naevi.
Of the 98 patients involved in the initial study, eight kidney and 37 liver transplant recipients, with an average follow‐up of 19 years, agreed to participate. Neither skin cancer nor pre-malignant lesions were detected in any of these patients.
Although skin cancer was not observed in the cohort in 2004 or 2014, researchers identified a significant increase in the number of benign naevi, particularly in those reporting frequent sunburn and sunscreen use. When compared with the 2004 cohort, 41 patients in the current cohort had increased numbers of benign naevi, with 11 patients having more than 50 benign naevi. Seventy‐one per cent of benign naevi in the 2014 cohort occurred on sun‐exposed sites (13% head/neck, 35% arms and 23% legs). Patients who regularly used sunscreen had more benign naevi on their arms.
This result is encouraging in not finding an increased risk of skin cancer after a follow-up period of 15–26 years post-transplantation. This may reflect increased sun protection, although in the last 10 years of this 20-year study, patients were using sunbeds, taking sunny holidays and experiencing sunburn more often, despite the earlier sun protection advice. This may reflect that these patients have reached their teenage and early adult years when much advice is ignored. If these high-risk factors continue, then increased skin cancers may be expected if the study continues for another 10 years.
Better ways of providing the sun protection message are needed. As the number of moles correlates with the risk of melanoma, paediatric organ transplant recipients still need regular skin checks and sun protection advice.
Source: Foo, S. , Nightingale, P. , Gazzani, P. , Bader, E. , Ogboli, M. , Martin‐Clavijo, A. , Milford, D. , Kelly, D. , Moss, C. and Thomson, M. (2018), A 10‐year longitudinal follow‐up study of a U.K. paediatric transplant population to assess for skin cancer. Br J Dermatol, 179: 1368-1375. doi:10.1111/bjd.16697
Interested in skin cancer medicine?
The HealthCert Professional Diploma programs offer foundation to advanced training in skin cancer medicine, skin cancer surgery or dermoscopy and provide an essential step towards subspecialisation. All programs are university quality-assured, CPD-accredited and count towards multiple Master degree pathways and clinical attachment programs in Australia and overseas. The programs are delivered online and/or face-to-face across most major cities of Australia.
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