Alireza Ghanadan; Reza Shirkoohi; Reza Shahsiah; Samira Alihosseini; Reza Amiri; Nika Kianfar; Shahriar Hadadi Abianeh; Elham Sabbagh; Behzad Khodaei; Maryam Nasimi
Abstract
Background: NRAS and BRAF mutations are commonly reported in melanoma with various frequencies in different countries. However, their correlation with the development of malignant melanoma and tumor prognosis has not previously been studied in the Iranian population. This study determined the prevalence ...
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Background: NRAS and BRAF mutations are commonly reported in melanoma with various frequencies in different countries. However, their correlation with the development of malignant melanoma and tumor prognosis has not previously been studied in the Iranian population. This study determined the prevalence of these mutations and their association with tumor-related factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 50 patients admitted to two dermatology hospitals with a definitive diagnosis of melanoma (primary or metastatic) who received surgery as a selective therapeutic option. The genomics of the BRAF and NRAS mutations were determined with the real-time PCR technique.Results: BRAF and NRAS mutations were presented in 30% and 26% of patients, respectively. The NRAS mutation correlated with mitosis (P = 0.026), while the BRAF mutation correlated with visceral involvement (P = 0.023). None of the mutations correlated with gender, age, melanoma type (primary vs. metastasis), ulcer, microsatellitosis, and lymph node involvement.Conclusion: BRAF and NRAS mutations demonstrated relatively high prevalence in Iranian patients with melanoma, which may be valuable prognostic tools in predicting tumor prognosis and metastasis.
Behzad Khodaei; Simin Seyedpour; Bahareh Gholami; Kambiz Kamyab Hesari; Seyed Ahmad Seyed Alinaghi; Maryam Nasimi
Abstract
Background: Nail disorders present with a wide range of manifestations. The problems associated with nail biopsiesmake the diagnosis even more challenging. Identifying the most common features of each nail disorder can prevent unnecessary biopsies and facilitate early diagnosis.Methods: We conducted ...
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Background: Nail disorders present with a wide range of manifestations. The problems associated with nail biopsiesmake the diagnosis even more challenging. Identifying the most common features of each nail disorder can prevent unnecessary biopsies and facilitate early diagnosis.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 528 pathology reports, documented from March 2018 to March 2019 in the Razi Dermatopathology Hospital, Tehran, Iran. We extracted the demographic data and the nails’ clinical and pathologic presentations. We used Fisher’s exact test to determine the nail features’ clinicopathological correlations.Results: The mean age of the 359 included patients was 38.81 ± 18.11 years, and 50.81% were male. Benign melanonychia (12.82%), traumatic nail (11.96%), and junctional nevus (11.11%) were the most prevalent disorders. Onycholysis (P < 0.001), longitudinal ridges (P < 0.001), subungual hyperkeratosis (P = 0.003), dystrophy (P = 0.017), discoloration (P = 0.052), and pitting (P < 0.001) correlated significantly with nail psoriasis. The presence of subungual hyperkeratosis, onycholysis, and longitudinal ridges significantly increased the odds of nail lichen planus. Only 6.79% of patients with longitudinal melanonychia had malignant melanoma, while most (26.54%) correlated with benign melanonychia.Conclusions: A detailed examination can narrow the differential diagnosis and avert unnecessary biopsies. However, in high-risk cases, physicians should regularly monitor the nails’ changes and response to treatment.