Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
-
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Jan 2000
Clinical TrialFactors influencing pain outcome in herpes zoster: an observational study with valaciclovir. Valaciclovir International Zoster Assessment Group (VIZA).
An observational study with valaciclovir was conducted to assess clinical outcome in herpes zoster, especially pain and associated neurological signs and symptoms in relation to a series of demographic and disease characteristics discernible at presentation. The safety and acceptability of valaciclovir for treatment of zoster was assessed in a wide variety of primary care and clinic referral settings. ⋯ This study confirmed the prognostic importance of advancing age and the intensity of prodromal or acute pain as risk factors for prolonged zoster-associated pain and persisting abnormal sensations in the affected dermatome. Ophthalmic zoster and pre-existing neurological disorders are also identified as highly significant risk factors for prolonged abnormal sensations in herpes zoster.
-
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Jan 2000
Review Clinical TrialSentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma: study of 455 cases.
The role of elective lymph node dissection in the treatment of patients with primary melanoma is a debated topic in surgical oncology. However, recent data assure a survival improvement with this technique only for patients harbouring nodal metastases. The emergence of a new procedure of lymphatic mapping permits the identification of the sentinel lymph node (SLN), the first draining node from the site of cutaneous melanoma, which has demonstrated to be predictive of staging of the entire regional lymphatic basin and useful in selecting for lymph node dissection only those patients who have early micrometastases. ⋯ Our data confirm in a large series of cases that the SLN biopsy is extremely selective and useful to find early micrometastases and to identify patients needing regional lymphadenectomy and adjuvant immunotherapy. Patients with intermediate thickness melanoma (0.76-4.0 mm) should be informed on the availability of such a revolutionary procedure, which represents a new opportunity in primary melanoma surgery.