A rare case of a patient with PPP syndrome presenting pancreatic pseudocysts, panniculitis, and symptoms of polyarthritis. A radicular cyst of the upper jaw could be another manifestation of the syndrome

Abstract In rare cases, pancreatic enzymes can enter the bloodstream and cause fat necrosis in the bone and tissue leading to a disorder called pancreatitis, panniculitis, and polyarthritis syndrome. Clinicians should have this syndrome in mind when treating patients with pancreatitis

Treatment of recalcitrant actinic keratosis (AK) of the scalp by cold atmospheric plasma

Background and objectives: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a frequent cutaneous lesion usually developing on sun-exposed skin and may be evolving into invasive squamous cell carcinoma requiring expensive therapy. Size, site or number of lesions limits the efficacy and/or acceptability of surgical and chemical therapies. Up to now photodynamic therapy (PDT) is recommended as treatment of choice. Material and methods: A patient (75y, m) suffered from recalcitrant AK lesions on the scalp, forearms and face for more than 20y. Various treatments including PDT, ablative laser and cryotherapy or chemical treatments failed to eradicate these lesions especially on the scalp. We used a CE-certified cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) jet, the Maxium® electrosurgery unit with maxium® beamer (KLS Martin GmbH + Co. KG), to treat one scalp lesion in one session (60 s, 20 W, 6 L/min). Results: CAP was able to eradicate AK of the patient in one session and was well tolerated. Histologic examination showed complete cure of AK. Control histology and visits up to 26 months after treatment do not show relapse or other skin deterioration. Conclusion: CAP seems to be an effective, curative and economic (one single treatment) alternative to conventional treatment of recalcitrant AK with field cancerization with excellent tolerability

Tumour stage distribution and survival of malignant melanoma in Germany 2002-2011

Background Over the past two decades, there has been a rising trend in malignant melanoma incidence worldwide. In 2008, Germany introduced a nationwide skin cancer screening program starting at age 35. The aims of this study were to analyse the distribution of malignant melanoma tumour stages over time, as well as demographic and regional differences in stage distribution and survival of melanoma patients. Methods Pooled data from 61 895 malignant melanoma patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2011 and documented in 28 German population-based and hospital-based clinical cancer registries were analysed using descriptive methods, joinpoint regression, logistic regression and relative survival. Results The number of annually documented cases increased by 53.2% between 2002 (N = 4 779) and 2011 (N = 7 320). There was a statistically significant continuous positive trend in the proportion of stage UICC I cases diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, compared to a negative trend for stage UICC II. No trends were found for stages UICC III and IV respectively. Age (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.97–0.97), sex (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.11–1.25), date of diagnosis (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06), ‘diagnosis during screening’ (OR 3.24, 95% CI 2.50–4.19) and place of residence (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16–1.30) had a statistically significant influence on the tumour stage at diagnosis. The overall 5-year relative survival for invasive cases was 83.4% (95% CI 82.8–83.9%). Conclusions No distinct changes in the distribution of malignant melanoma tumour stages among those aged 35 and older were seen that could be directly attributed to the introduction of skin cancer screening in 2008.

Additional file 3: Table S2. of Tumour stage distribution and survival of malignant melanoma in Germany 2002–2011

Malignant melanoma patients aged 35 years and above by age at diagnosis, sex, UICC stage, year of diagnosis, place of residence and ‘diagnosis during screening’, N = 34 739 (UICC 0 and X excluded) (DOCX 40 kb

Additional file 4: Table S3. of Tumour stage distribution and survival of malignant melanoma in Germany 2002–2011

Relative 5-year survival of malignant melanoma patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, overall (UICC 0-IV, X) (N = 60 672) and for patients with invasive tumours (UICC I – IV, X) stratified by age, sex, UICC stage, ‘diagnosis during screening’ and place of residence (N = 49 351) (DOCX 39 kb