Cancer
Vincenzo Berghella in Maternal-Fetal Evidence Based Guidelines, 2022
Pregnant women are diagnosed with thicker tumors compared to non-pregnant women. This (as well as the increase in metastatic disease) has been ascribed to a delay in biopsy leading to delayed diagnosis when changes in moles’ appearances are ascribed to pregnancy or the surgeon is hesitant to perform a biopsy during pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation can occur secondary to an increased secretion of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH); however, the color of the mole should still be uniform, and benign moles should not cause itching. Maximum increases/decreases in the size of melanocytic nevi in pregnancy is 1 mm [93]. During pregnancy, one must still look for signs of melanoma, which should not be ascribed to normal changes in pregnancy. These signs include the ABCD signs: A for asymmetry; B for notched, irregular, or indistinct borders; C for an uneven color; D for diameter greater than 6 mm. Again, itching of a mole can be an early sign of malignant melanoma.
Defining genetic changes associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma
J. K. Cowell in Molecular Genetics of Cancer, 2003
Melanoma is a complex disorder with involvement of both host and environmental factors, especially exposure to ultraviolet radiation (Green and Swerdlow, 1989). Epidemiological studies have shown UV radiation as a major cause of CMM in light-pigmented populations and for an increased incidence of this malignancy. Anatomic distribution of melanoma lesions by sex, geographic and racial differences, and migration studies are the basic lines of evidence that support this relationship (Langley and Sober, 1997). In women, the lower legs and the upper back are the most common sites for melanoma, whereas in men, the trunk is the most frequent site. Areas of the body intermittently exposed to sun appear to develop melanoma more frequently than areas of maximal UV exposure (Crombie, 1981; Elwood, 1996; Elwood and Gallagher, 1983; Green et al., 1993; Holman et al., 1980).
FDG PET/CT Imaging: Clinical Uses and Opportunities
Martin G. Pomper, Juri G. Gelovani, Benjamin Tsui, Kathleen Gabrielson, Richard Wahl, S. Sam Gambhir, Jeff Bulte, Raymond Gibson, William C. Eckelman in Molecular Imaging in Oncology, 2008
Melanoma is a potentially lethal type of skin cancer, with approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States per year and accounting for over 8000 deaths (33). Mortality is dramatically dependent on the disease stage with five-year survival of 99% for localized disease, 65% for regional metastatic disease, and 15% in patients with distant metastasis. Given intense FDG avidity of melanoma FDG PET or PET/CT can be a valuable clinical tool in appropriate clinical settings. Melanoma is usually detected on clinical exam with subsequent excisional biopsy. Local staging is typically performed by sentinel node localization and excision. FDG PET or PET/CT is unlikely to improve local staging due to poor sensitivity for micrometastasis. While PET is able to detect lymph node metastases that may be occult on CT, sentinel lymph node localization/removal procedures are far more sensitive for detecting small tumor foci in lymph nodes.
Circular RNA ITCH downregulates GLUT1 and suppresses glucose uptake in melanoma to inhibit cancer cell proliferation
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2021
Qianli Lin, Hua Jiang, Defeng Lin
Melanoma is a type of malignant tumor which originates from melanocytes, which produce pigment melanin. Sun damage after exposure to ultraviolet light is the major cause of melanoma (1). Prognosis of most melanoma patients is satisfactory, especially after active treatments, such as radiotherapy, surgical tumor removal, and laser photocoagulation (2). However, more that 20% of melanoma cases will inevitably develop into aggressive invasion, which lacks radical treatment (3). Once aggressive invasion occurred, the 5-year overall survival rate will be as low as 5–10% (4). The mechanism of the pathogenesis of melanoma is still poorly understood (5), which limits the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Therefore, identification of novel molecular pathways involved in melanoma is always needed.
Cutaneous eyelid melanoma in an African American child
Published in Orbit, 2021
Jan P. Ulloa-Padilla, Armen Khararjian, Catherine J. Choi
These subtle differences in the pediatric population between benign lesions and melanoma are not limited to the clinical appearance, but also involve the histopathological analysis.5 Microscopic examination of melanoma most often shows the classic features of neoplasia with variable amount of pigmentation. However, a similar notable entity in the differential diagnosis is the Spitz nevus (SN).,4,5 SN may share multiple histological features with melanoma such as the presence of spindle cells, epithelioid cells with prominent nucleoli, possible pagetoid spread, lymphatic invasion and prominent vasculature.4 While a SN can often be differentiated from a CM based on clinical presentation, the possibility of an atypical SN complicates the diagnostic confidence.
Skin impacts from exposure to ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and artificial lights – a review
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2021
Juliana Yuka Furukawa, Renata Miliani Martinez, Ana Lucía Morocho-Jácome, Thalía Selene Castillo-Gómez, Vecxi Judith Pereda-Contreras, Catarina Rosado, Maria Valéria Robles Velasco, André Rolim Baby
Furthermore, many studies have demonstrated the effect of immunosuppression caused by UV radiation (1). The mechanism occurs at the molecular level in which chromophores absorb energy from radiation and transfer to an excited energy state, becoming unstable. This process can produce ROS, with consequences on DNA, melanin, urocanic acid, and other structures. Such changes in genetic material result in injuries. The most frequent and characteristic is the production of pyrimidine cyclobutane and pyrimidine (4–6) dimers, which cause structural damage by inhibiting DNA replication and transcription (10,14). The process products produce molecules of the immune system, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-1, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), characteristic of an inflammatory state. There is also the induction of T cells, such as CD4+, CD25+, in addition to depleting enzymes and antioxidants, such as glutathione reductase and catalase, tocopherol, and ubiquinone. In parallel, a state of immunosuppression occurs in the body, which makes it more susceptible to carcinogenic mechanisms generated by mutations not correctly repaired by the immune system. Melanomas are related to the intense and intermittent exposure to UV radiation and arise from melanocytes. This is because melanocytes that are severely damaged after intense exposure do not necessarily undergo apoptosis. These, with each intense exposure, accumulate the damages suffered and are less able to repair their genetic damage (1,3,17).