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InternalMed_Harrison. The practice of using “early empirical” antibiotics reduced mortality rates among patients with leukemia and bacteremia from 84% in 1965 to 44% in 1972. Recent studies suggest that the mortality rate due to infection in febrile neutropenic patients dropped to <10% by 2013. This dramatic improvement is attributed to early intervention with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. 2. “Empirical” antifungal therapy has also lowered the incidence of disseminated fungal infection, with dramatic decreases in mortality rates. An antifungal agent is administered—on the basis of likely fungal infection—to neutropenic patients who, after 4–7 days of antibiotic therapy, remain febrile but have no positive cultures. 3.


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InternalMed_Harrison. 3. Use of antibiotics for afebrile neutropenic patients as broad-spectrum prophylaxis against infections has decreased both mortality and morbidity even further. The current approach to treatment of severely neutropenic patients (e.g., those receiving high-dose chemotherapy for leukemia or high-grade lymphoma) is based on initial prophylactic therapy at the onset of neutropenia, subsequent “empirical” antibacterial therapy targeting the organisms whose involvement is likely in light of physical findings (most often fever alone), and finally “empirical” antifungal therapy based on the known likelihood that fungal infection will become a serious issue after 4–7 days of broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy.


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InternalMed_Harrison. A physical predisposition to infection in patients with cancer (Table 104-1) can be a result of the neoplasm’s production of a break in the skin. For example, a squamous cell carcinoma may cause local invasion infection, and obstruction of the bile duct can cause cholangitis. Part of the host’s normal defense against infection depends on the continuous emptying of a viscus; without emptying, a few bacteria that are present as a result of bacteremia or local transit can multiply and cause disease.


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InternalMed_Harrison. A similar problem can affect patients whose lymph node integrity has been disrupted by radical surgery, particularly patients who have had radical node dissections. A common clinical problem following radical mastectomy is the development of cellulitis (usually caused by streptococci or staphylococci) because of lymphedema and/or inadequate lymph drainage. In most cases, this problem can be addressed by local measures designed to prevent fluid accumulation and breaks in the skin, but antibiotic prophylaxis has been necessary in refractory cases.


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InternalMed_Harrison. A life-threatening problem common to many cancer patients is the loss of the reticuloendothelial capacity to clear microorganisms after splenectomy, which may be performed as part of the management of hairy cell leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and in Hodgkin’s disease. Even after curative therapy for the underlying disease, the lack of a spleen predisposes such patients to rapidly fatal infections. The loss of the spleen through trauma similarly predisposes the normal host to overwhelming infection throughout life. The splenectomized patient should be counseled about the risks of infection with certain organisms, such as the protozoan Babesia (Chap. 249) and Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium carried in the mouths of animals (Chaps. 167e and 183e). Because encapsulated bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis) are the organisms most commonly associated with postsplenectomy sepsis,


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InternalMed_Harrison. 167e and 183e). Because encapsulated bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis) are the organisms most commonly associated with postsplenectomy sepsis, splenectomized persons should be vaccinated (and revaccinated; Table 104-2 and Chap. 148) against the capsular polysaccharides of these organisms. Many clinicians recommend giving splenectomized patients a small supply of antibiotics effective against S. pneumoniae,


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InternalMed_Harrison. N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae to avert rapid, overwhelming sepsis in the event that they cannot present for medical attention immediately after the onset of fever or other signs or symptoms of bacterial infection. A few tablets of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (or levofloxacin if resistant strains of S. pneumoniae are prevalent locally) are a reasonable choice for this purpose. Type of Defense Specific Lesion Cells Involved Organism Cancer Association Disease Emptying of fluid Occlusion of orifices: collections ureters, bile duct, colon Lymphatic function Node dissection Splenic clearance of Splenectomy Phagocytosis Lack of granulocytes Humoral immunity Lack of antibody Cellular immunity Lack of T cells Skin epithelial cells Luminal epithelial cells T cells and macrophages Staphylococci, streptococci Staphylococci, streptococci Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Babesia, Capnocytophaga canimorsus


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. T cells and macrophages Staphylococci, streptococci Staphylococci, streptococci Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Babesia, Capnocytophaga canimorsus Staphylococci, streptococci, enteric organisms, fungi S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, N. meningitidis Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria, herpesviruses, fungi, intracellular parasites Head and neck, squamous cell carcinoma Renal, ovarian, biliary tree, metastatic diseases of many cancers Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia Acute myeloid and acute lymphocytic leukemias, hairy cell leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, T cell lymphoma Cellulitis, extensive skin infection Rapid, overwhelming bacteremia; urinary tract infection Rapid, overwhelming sepsis Infections with encapsulated organisms, sinusitis, pneumonia


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InternalMed_Harrison. Infections with intracellular bacteria, fungi, parasites; virus reactivation a case-by-case basis following reevaluation.) aThe latest recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the CDC guidelines can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines. bA single dose of TDaP (tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis), followed by a booster dose of Td (tetanus-diphtheria) every 10 years, is recommended for adults. cLive-virus vaccine is contraindicated; inactivated vaccine should be used. dTwo types of vaccine are used to prevent pneumococcal disease. A conjugate vaccine active against 13 serotypes (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or PCV13) is currently administered in three separate doses to all children. A polysaccharide vaccine active against 23 serotypes (23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or PPSV23) elicits titers of antibody lower than those achieved with the conjugate vaccine, and immunity may wane more rapidly. Because the ablative


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InternalMed_Harrison. (23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or PPSV23) elicits titers of antibody lower than those achieved with the conjugate vaccine, and immunity may wane more rapidly. Because the ablative chemotherapy given to recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) eradicates immunologic memory, revaccination is recommended for all such patients. Vaccination is much more effective once immunologic reconstitution has occurred; however, because of the need to prevent serious disease, pneumococcal vaccine should be administered 6–12 months after transplantation in most cases. Because PPSV23 includes serotypes not present in PCV13, HSCT recipients should receive a dose of PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV13. Although antibody titers from PPSV23 clearly decay, experience with multiple doses of PPSV23 is limited, as are data on the safety, toxicity, or efficacy of such a regimen. For this reason, the CDC currently recommends the administration of one additional


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. with multiple doses of PPSV23 is limited, as are data on the safety, toxicity, or efficacy of such a regimen. For this reason, the CDC currently recommends the administration of one additional dose of PPSV23 at least 5 years after the last dose to immunocompromised patients, including transplant recipients, as well as patients with Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, or generalized malignancies. Beyond this single additional dose, further doses are not recommended at this time. eMeningococcal conjugate vaccine MenACWY is recommended for adults ≤55 years old, and meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) is recommended for those ≥56 years old. fIncludes both varicella vaccine for children and zoster vaccine for adults. gContact the manufacturer for more information on use in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.


InternalMed_Harrison

Infections in Patients with Cancer

InternalMed_Harrison. Infections in Patients with Cancer


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InternalMed_Harrison. The level of suspicion of infections with certain organisms should depend on the type of cancer diagnosed (Table 104-3). Diagnosis of multiple myeloma or CLL should alert the clinician to the possibility of hypogammaglobulinemia. While immunoglobulin replacement therapy can be effective, in most cases prophylactic antibiotics are a cheaper, more convenient method of eliminating bacterial infections in CLL patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. Patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and all cancer patients treated with high-dose glucocorticoids (or glucocorticoid-containing chemotherapy regimens) should receive antibiotic prophylaxis for Pneumocystis infection (Table 104-3) for the duration of their chemotherapy. In addition to exhibiting susceptibility to certain infectious organisms, patients with cancer are likely to manifest their infections in characteristic ways. For example, fever—generally a sign of infection in normal


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. susceptibility to certain infectious organisms, patients with cancer are likely to manifest their infections in characteristic ways. For example, fever—generally a sign of infection in normal hosts—continues to be a reliable indicator in neutropenic patients. In contrast, patients receiving glucocorticoids and agents that impair T cell function and cytokine secretion may have serious infections in the absence of fever. Similarly, neutropenic patients commonly present with cellulitis without purulence and with pneumonia without sputum or even x-ray findings (see below).


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InternalMed_Harrison. The use of monoclonal antibodies that target B and T cells as well as drugs that interfere with lymphocyte signal transduction events is associated with reactivation of latent infections. The use of rituximab, the antibody to CD20 (a B cell surface protein), is associated with the development of reactivation tuberculosis as well as other latent viral infections, including hepatitis B and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Like organ transplant recipients (Chap. 169), patients with latent bacterial disease (like tuberculosis) and latent viral disease (like herpes simplex or zoster) should be carefully monitored for reactivation disease. Skin lesions are common in cancer patients, and the appearance of these lesions may permit the diagnosis of systemic bacterial or fungal infection. While cellulitis caused by skin organisms such as aThe reason for this association is not well defined.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Streptococcus or Staphylococcus is common, neutropenic patients—i.e., those with <500 functional polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs)/ μL—and patients with impaired blood or lymphatic drainage may develop infections with unusual organisms. Innocent-looking macules or papules may be the first sign of bacterial or fungal sepsis in immunocompromised patients (Fig. 104-1). In the neutropenic host, a macule progresses rapidly to ecthyma gangrenosum (see Fig. 25e-35), a usually painless, round, necrotic lesion consisting of a central black or gray-black eschar with surrounding erythema. Ecthyma gangrenosum, which is located in nonpressure areas (as distinguished from necrotic lesions associated with lack of circulation), is often associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia (Chap. 189) but may be caused by other bacteria.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Candidemia (Chap. 240) is also associated with a variety of skin conditions (see Fig. 25e-38) and commonly presents as a maculopapular rash. Punch biopsy of the skin may be the best method for diagnosis. Escherichia coli Serratia spp. Klebsiella spp. Acinetobacter spp.a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Stenotrophomonas spp. Enterobacter spp. Citrobacter spp. Non-aeruginosa Pseudomonas spp.a Candida spp. Mucor/Rhizopus Aspergillus spp. aOften associated with intravenous catheters.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Cellulitis, an acute spreading inflammation of the skin, is most often caused by infection with group A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus, virulent organisms normally found on the skin (Chap. 156). Although cellulitis tends to be circumscribed in normal hosts, it may spread rapidly in neutropenic patients. A tiny break in the skin may lead to spreading cellulitis, which is characterized by pain and erythema; in the affected patients, signs of infection (e.g., purulence) are often lacking. What might be a furuncle in a normal host may require amputation because of uncontrolled infection in a patient presenting with leukemia. A dramatic response to an infection that might be trivial in a normal host can mark the first sign of leukemia. Fortunately, granulocytopenic patients are likely to be infected with certain types of organisms (Table 104-4); thus the selection of an antibiotic regimen is somewhat easier than it might otherwise be (see “Antibacterial Therapy,” below). It is


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InternalMed_Harrison. to be infected with certain types of organisms (Table 104-4); thus the selection of an antibiotic regimen is somewhat easier than it might otherwise be (see “Antibacterial Therapy,” below). It is essential to recognize cellulitis early and to treat it aggressively. Patients who are neutropenic or who have previously received antibiotics for other reasons may develop cellulitis with unusual organisms (e.g., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, or fungi). Early treatment, even of innocent-looking lesions, is essential to prevent necrosis and loss of tissue. Debridement to prevent spread may sometimes be necessary early in the course of disease, but it can often be performed after chemotherapy, when the PMN count increases.


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InternalMed_Harrison. FIGURE 104-1 A. Papules related to Escherichia coli bacteremia in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia. B. The same lesions on the following day.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Sweet syndrome, or febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, was originally described in women with elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts. The disease is characterized by the presence of leukocytes in the lower dermis, with edema of the papillary body. Ironically, this disease now is usually seen in neutropenic patients with cancer, most often in association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but also in association with a variety of other malignancies. Sweet syndrome usually presents as red or bluish-red papules or nodules that may coalesce and form sharply bordered plaques (see Fig. 25e-41). The edema may suggest vesicles, but on palpation the lesions are solid, and vesicles probably never arise in this disease. The lesions are most common on the face, neck, and arms. On the legs, they may be confused with erythema nodosum (see Fig. 25e-40). The development of lesions is often accompanied by high fevers and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Both the lesions and the temperature


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. confused with erythema nodosum (see Fig. 25e-40). The development of lesions is often accompanied by high fevers and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Both the lesions and the temperature elevation respond dramatically to glucocorticoid administration. Treatment begins with high doses of glucocorticoids (prednisone, 60 mg/d) followed by tapered doses over the next 2–3 weeks.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Data indicate that erythema multiforme (see Fig. 25e-25) with mucous membrane involvement is often associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and is distinct from Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is associated with drugs and tends to have a more widespread distribution. Because cancer patients are both immunosuppressed (and therefore susceptible to herpes infections) and heavily treated with drugs (and therefore subject to Stevens-Johnson syndrome [see Fig. 46e-4]), both of these conditions are common in this population. Cytokines, which are used as adjuvants or primary treatments for cancer, can themselves cause characteristic rashes, further complicating the differential diagnosis. This phenomenon is a particular problem in bone marrow transplant recipients (Chap. 169), who, in addition to having the usual chemotherapy-, antibiotic-, and cytokineinduced rashes, are plagued by graft-versus-host disease.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Because IV catheters are commonly used in cancer chemotherapy and are prone to cause infection (Chap. 168), they pose a major problem in the care of patients with cancer. Some catheter-associated infections can be treated with antibiotics, whereas in others the catheter must be removed (Table 104-5). If the patient has a “tunneled” catheter (which consists of an entrance site, a subcutaneous tunnel, and an exit site), a red streak over the subcutaneous part of the line (the tunnel) is grounds for immediate device removal. Failure to remove catheters under these 487 circumstances may result in extensive cellulitis and tissue necrosis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. More common than tunnel infections are exit-site infections, often with erythema around the area where the line penetrates the skin. Most authorities (Chap. 172) recommend treatment (usually with vancomycin) for an exit-site infection caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Treatment of coagulase-positive staphylococcal infection is associated with a poorer outcome, and it is advisable to remove the catheter if possible. Similarly, most clinicians remove catheters associated with infections due to P. aeruginosa and Candida species, because such infections are difficult to treat and bloodstream infections with these organisms are likely to be deadly. Catheter infections caused by Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas species, Agrobacterium species, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas species other than aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are likely to be very difficult to eradicate with antibiotics alone. Similarly, isolation of Bacillus, Corynebacterium, and


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. species other than aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are likely to be very difficult to eradicate with antibiotics alone. Similarly, isolation of Bacillus, Corynebacterium, and Mycobacterium species should prompt removal of the catheter.


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InternalMed_Harrison. infections of the mouth The oral cavity is rich in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (Chap. 201) that normally live in a commensal relationship with the host. The antimetabolic effects of chemotherapy cause a breakdown of mucosal host defenses, leading to ulceration of the mouth and the potential for invasion by resident bacteria. Mouth ulcerations afflict most patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy and have been associated with viridans streptococcal bacteremia. Candida infections of the mouth are very common. Fluconazole is clearly effective in the treatment of both local infections (thrush) and systemic infections (esophagitis) due to Candida albicans. Other azoles (e.g., voriconazole) as well as echinocandins offer similar efficacy as well as activity against the fluconazole-resistant organisms that are associated with chronic fluconazole treatment (Chap. 240).


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InternalMed_Harrison. Noma (cancrum oris), commonly seen in malnourished children, is a penetrating disease of the soft and hard tissues of the mouth and adjacent sites, with resulting necrosis and gangrene. It has a counterpart in immunocompromised patients and is thought to be due to invasion of the tissues by Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and other normal inhabitants of the mouth. Noma is associated with debility, poor oral hygiene, and immunosuppression. Infections in Patients with Cancer Evidence of Infection, Negative Blood Cultures 488 Viruses, particularly HSV, are a prominent cause of morbidity in immunocompromised patients, in whom they are associated with severe mucositis. The use of acyclovir, either prophylactically or therapeutically, is of value. esoPhageal infections The differential diagnosis of esophagitis (usually presenting as substernal chest pain upon swallowing) includes herpes simplex and candidiasis, both of which are readily treatable.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Disease Hepatic candidiasis (Chap. 240) results from seeding of the liver (usually from a gastrointestinal source) in neutropenic patients. It is most common among patients being treated for AML and usually presents symptomatically around the time the neutropenia resolves. The characteristic picture is that of persistent fever unresponsive to antibiotics, abdominal pain and tenderness or nausea, and elevated serum levels of alkaline phosphatase in a patient with hematologic malignancy who has recently recovered from neutropenia. The diagnosis of this disease (which may present in an indolent manner and persist for several months) is based on the finding of yeasts or pseudohyphae in granulomatous lesions. Hepatic ultrasound or CT may reveal bull’s-eye lesions. MRI scans reveal small lesions not visible by other imaging modalities. The pathology (a granulomatous response) and the timing (with resolution of neutropenia and an elevation in granulocyte count)


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. MRI scans reveal small lesions not visible by other imaging modalities. The pathology (a granulomatous response) and the timing (with resolution of neutropenia and an elevation in granulocyte count) suggest that the host response to Candida is an important component of the manifestations of disease. In many cases, although organisms are visible, cultures of biopsied material may be negative. The designation hepatosplenic candidiasis or hepatic candidiasis is a misnomer because the disease often involves the kidneys and other tissues; the term chronic disseminated candidiasis may be more appropriate. Because of the risk of bleeding with liver biopsy, diagnosis is often based on imaging studies (MRI, CT). Treatment should be directed to the causative agent (usually C. albicans but sometimes Candida tropicalis or other less common Candida species).


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InternalMed_Harrison. Typhlitis Typhlitis (also referred to as necrotizing colitis, neutropenic colitis, necrotizing enteropathy, ileocecal syndrome, and cecitis) is a clinical syndrome of fever and right-lower-quadrant (or generalized abdominal) tenderness in an immunosuppressed host. This syndrome is classically seen in neutropenic patients after chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs. It may be more common among children than among adults and appears to be much more common among patients with AML or ALL than among those with other types of cancer. Physical examination reveals right-lower-quadrant tenderness, with or without rebound tenderness. Associated diarrhea (often bloody) is common, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by the finding of a thickened cecal wall on CT, MRI, or ultrasonography. Plain films may reveal a right-lower-quadrant mass, but CT with contrast or MRI is a much more sensitive means of diagnosis. Although surgery is sometimes attempted to avoid perforation from ischemia, most cases


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. may reveal a right-lower-quadrant mass, but CT with contrast or MRI is a much more sensitive means of diagnosis. Although surgery is sometimes attempted to avoid perforation from ischemia, most cases resolve with medical therapy alone. The disease is sometimes associated with positive blood cultures (which usually yield aerobic gram-negative bacilli), and therapy is recommended for a broad spectrum of bacteria (particularly gram-negative bacilli, which are likely to be found in the bowel flora). Surgery is indicated in the case of perforation.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Clostridium difficile–Induced Diarrhea Patients with cancer are predisposed to the development of C. difficile diarrhea (Chap. 161) as a consequence of chemotherapy alone. Thus, they may test positive for C. difficile even without receiving antibiotics. Obviously, such patients are also subject to C. difficile–induced diarrhea as a result of antibiotic pressure. C. difficile should always be considered as a possible cause of diarrhea in cancer patients who have received either chemotherapy or antibiotics. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM–SPECIFIC SYNDROMES Meningitis The presentation of meningitis in patients with lymphoma or CLL and in patients receiving chemotherapy (particularly with glucocorticoids) for solid tumors suggests a diagnosis of cryptococcal or listerial infection. As noted previously, splenectomized patients are susceptible to rapid, overwhelming infection with encapsulated bacteria (including S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and N. meningitidis).


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InternalMed_Harrison. Similarly, patients who are antibody-deficient (e.g., those with CLL, those who have received intensive chemotherapy, or those who have undergone bone marrow transplantation) are likely to have infections caused by these bacteria. Other cancer patients, however, because of their defective cellular immunity, are likely to be infected with other pathogens (Table 104-3). Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis should be considered, especially in patients from countries where tuberculosis is highly prevalent in the population.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Encephalitis The spectrum of disease resulting from viral encephalitis is expanded in immunocompromised patients. A predisposition to infections with intracellular organisms similar to those encountered in patients with AIDS (Chap. 226) is seen in cancer patients receiving (1) high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy, (2) chemotherapy affecting T cell function (e.g., fludarabine), or (3) antibodies that eliminate T cells (e.g., anti-CD3, alemtuzumab, anti-CD52) or cytokine activity (anti– tumor necrosis factor agents or interleukin 1 receptor antagonists). Infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) has been associated with encephalitis that may be caused by VZV-related vasculitis. Chronic viral infections may also be associated with dementia and encephalitic presentations. A diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (Chap. 164) should be considered when a patient who has received chemotherapy (rituximab in particular) presents with dementia (Table 104-6). Other abnormalities of


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InternalMed_Harrison. multifocal leukoencephalopathy (Chap. 164) should be considered when a patient who has received chemotherapy (rituximab in particular) presents with dementia (Table 104-6). Other abnormalities of the CNS that may be confused with infection include normal-pressure hydrocephalus and vasculitis resulting from CNS irradiation. It may be possible to differentiate these conditions by MRI.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Brain Masses Mass lesions of the brain most often present as headache with or without fever or neurologic abnormalities. Infections associated with mass lesions may be caused by bacteria (particularly Nocardia), fungi (particularly Cryptococcus or Aspergillus), or parasites (Toxoplasma). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–associated lymphoma may also present as single—or sometimes multiple—mass lesions of the brain. A biopsy may be required for a definitive diagnosis. Pneumonia (Chap. 153) in immunocompromised patients may be difficult to diagnose because conventional methods of diagnosis depend on the presence of neutrophils. Bacterial pneumonia in neutropenic patients may present without purulent sputum—or, in fact, without any sputum at all—and may not produce physical findings suggestive of chest consolidation (rales or egophony).


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InternalMed_Harrison. In granulocytopenic patients with persistent or recurrent fever, the chest x-ray pattern may help to localize an infection and thus to determine which investigative tests and procedures should be undertaken and which therapeutic options should be considered (Table 104-7). In this setting, a simple chest x-ray is a screening tool; because the impaired host response results in less evidence of consolidation or infiltration, high-resolution CT is recommended for the diagnosis of pulmonary infections. The difficulties encountered in the management of pulmonary infiltrates relate in part to the difficulties of performing diagnostic procedures on the patients involved. When platelet counts can be increased to adequate levels by transfusion, aHigh-dose glucocorticoid therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Cause of Pneumonia microscopic and microbiologic evaluation of the fluid obtained by endoscopic bronchial lavage is often diagnostic. Lavage fluid should be cultured for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Legionella, Nocardia, more common bacterial pathogens, fungi, and viruses. In addition, the possibility of Pneumocystis pneumonia should be considered, especially in patients with ALL or lymphoma who have not received prophylactic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). The characteristics of the infiltrate may be helpful in decisions about further diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers. Nodular infiltrates suggest fungal pneumonia (e.g., that caused by Aspergillus or Mucor). Such lesions may best be approached by visualized biopsy procedures. It is worth noting that while bacterial pneumonias classically present as lobar infiltrates in normal hosts, bacterial pneumonias in granulocytopenic hosts present with a paucity of signs, symptoms, or radiographic abnormalities; thus, the diagnosis is


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. present as lobar infiltrates in normal hosts, bacterial pneumonias in granulocytopenic hosts present with a paucity of signs, symptoms, or radiographic abnormalities; thus, the diagnosis is difficult.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Aspergillus species (Chap. 241) can colonize the skin and respiratory tract or cause fatal systemic illness. Although this fungus may cause aspergillomas in a previously existing cavity or may produce allergic bronchopulmonary disease in some patients, the major problem posed by this genus in neutropenic patients is invasive disease, primarily due to Aspergillus fumigatus or Aspergillus flavus. The organisms enter the host following colonization of the respiratory tract, with subsequent invasion of blood vessels. The disease is likely to present as a thrombotic or embolic event because of this ability of the fungi to invade blood vessels. The risk of infection with Aspergillus correlates directly with the duration of neutropenia. In prolonged neutropenia, positive surveillance cultures for nasopharyngeal colonization with Aspergillus may predict the development of disease.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Patients with Aspergillus infection often present with pleuritic chest pain and fever, which are sometimes accompanied by cough. Hemoptysis may be an ominous sign. Chest x-rays may reveal new focal infiltrates or nodules. Chest CT may reveal a characteristic halo consisting of a mass-like infiltrate surrounded by an area of low attenuation. The presence of a “crescent sign” on chest x-ray or chest CT, in which the mass progresses to central cavitation, is characteristic of invasive Aspergillus infection but may develop as the lesions are resolving. In addition to causing pulmonary disease, Aspergillus may invade through the nose or palate, with deep sinus penetration. The appearance of a discolored area in the nasal passages or on the hard palate should prompt a search for invasive Aspergillus. This situation is likely to require surgical debridement. Catheter infections with Aspergillus usually require both removal of the catheter and antifungal therapy.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Diffuse interstitial infiltrates suggest viral, parasitic, or Pneumocystis pneumonia. If the patient has a diffuse interstitial pattern on chest x-ray, it may be reasonable, while considering invasive diagnostic procedures, to institute empirical treatment for Pneumocystis with TMP-SMX and for Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, and Legionella with a quinolone or azithromycin. Noninvasive procedures, such as staining of induced sputum smears for Pneumocystis, serum cryptococcal antigen tests, and urine testing for Legionella antigen, may be helpful. Serum galactomannan and β-d-glucan tests may be of value in diagnosing Aspergillus infection, but their utility is limited by their lack of sensitivity and specificity. The presence of an elevated level of β-d-glucan in the serum of a patient being treated for cancer who is not receiving prophylaxis against Pneumocystis suggests the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia. Infections with viruses that cause only 489 upper respiratory symptoms in


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InternalMed_Harrison. treated for cancer who is not receiving prophylaxis against Pneumocystis suggests the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia. Infections with viruses that cause only 489 upper respiratory symptoms in immunocompetent hosts, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, and parainfluenza viruses, may be associated with fatal pneumonitis in immunocompromised hosts. CMV reactivation occurs in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, but CMV pneumonia is most common among HSCT recipients (Chap. 169). Polymerase chain reaction testing now allows rapid diagnosis of viral pneumonia, which can lead to treatment in some cases (e.g., influenza). Multiplex studies that can detect a wide array of viruses in the lung and upper respiratory tract are now available and will lead to specific diagnoses of viral pneumonias.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Bleomycin is the most common cause of chemotherapy-induced lung disease. Other causes include alkylating agents (such as cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, and melphalan), nitrosoureas (carmustine [BCNU], lomustine [CCNU], and methyl-CCNU), busulfan, procarbazine, methotrexate, and hydroxyurea. Both infectious and noninfectious (drugand/or radiation-induced) pneumonitis can cause fever and abnormalities on chest x-ray; thus, the differential diagnosis of an infiltrate in a patient receiving chemotherapy encompasses a broad range of conditions (Table 104-7). The treatment of radiation pneumonitis (which may respond dramatically to glucocorticoids) or drug-induced pneumonitis is different from that of infectious pneumonia, and a biopsy may be important in the diagnosis. Unfortunately, no definitive diagnosis can be made in ∼30% of cases, even after bronchoscopy.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Open-lung biopsy is the gold standard of diagnostic techniques. Biopsy via a visualized thoracostomy can replace an open procedure in many cases. When a biopsy cannot be performed, empirical treatment can be undertaken; a quinolone or an erythromycin derivative (azithromycin) and TMP-SMX are used in the case of diffuse infiltrates, and an antifungal agent is administered in the case of nodular infiltrates. The risks should be weighed carefully in these cases. If inappropriate drugs are administered, empirical treatment may prove toxic or ineffective; either of these outcomes may be riskier than biopsy.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Patients with Hodgkin’s disease are prone to persistent infections by Salmonella, sometimes (and particularly often in elderly patients) affecting a vascular site. The use of IV catheters deliberately lodged in the right atrium is associated with a high incidence of bacterial endocarditis, presumably related to valve damage followed by bacteremia. Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (marantic endocarditis) has been described in association with a variety of malignancies (most often solid tumors) and may follow bone marrow transplantation as well. The presentation of an embolic event with a new cardiac murmur suggests this diagnosis. Blood cultures are negative in this disease of unknown pathogenesis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Infections of the endocrine system have been described in immunocompromised patients. Candida infection of the thyroid may be difficult to diagnose during the neutropenic period. It can be defined by indium-labeled WBC scans or gallium scans after neutrophil counts increase. CMV infection can cause adrenalitis with or without resulting adrenal insufficiency. The presentation of a sudden endocrine anomaly in an immunocompromised patient can be a sign of infection in the involved end organ. Infection that is a consequence of vascular compromise, resulting in gangrene, can occur when a tumor restricts the blood supply to muscles, bones, or joints. The process of diagnosis and treatment of such infection is similar to that in normal hosts, with the following caveats: 1.


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InternalMed_Harrison. In terms of diagnosis, a lack of physical findings resulting from a lack of granulocytes in the granulocytopenic patient should make the clinician more aggressive in obtaining tissue rather than more willing to rely on physical signs. 2. In terms of therapy, aggressive debridement of infected tissues may be required. However, it is usually difficult to operate on patients


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. 2. In terms of therapy, aggressive debridement of infected tissues may be required. However, it is usually difficult to operate on patients Infections in Patients with Cancer 490 who have recently received chemotherapy, both because of a lack of platelets (which results in bleeding complications) and because of a lack of WBCs (which may lead to secondary infection). A blood culture positive for Clostridium perfringens—an organism commonly associated with gas gangrene—can have a number of meanings (Chap. 179). Clostridium septicum bacteremia is associated with the presence of an underlying malignancy. Bloodstream infections with intestinal organisms such as Streptococcus bovis biotype 1 and C. perfringens may arise spontaneously from lower gastrointestinal lesions (tumor or polyps); alternatively, these lesions may be harbingers of invasive disease. The clinical setting must be considered in order to define the appropriate treatment for each case.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Infections of the urinary tract are common among patients whose ureteral excretion is compromised (Table 104-1). Candida, which has a predilection for the kidney, can invade either from the bloodstream or in a retrograde manner (via the ureters or bladder) in immunocompromised patients. The presence of “fungus balls” or persistent candiduria suggests invasive disease. Persistent funguria (with Aspergillus as well as Candida) should prompt a search for a nidus of infection in the kidney. Certain viruses are typically seen only in immunosuppressed patients. BK virus (polyomavirus hominis 1) has been documented in the urine of bone marrow transplant recipients and, like adenovirus, may be associated with hemorrhagic cystitis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to detail how all the immunologic abnormalities that result from cancer or from chemotherapy for cancer lead to infections. Disorders of the immune system are discussed in other sections of this book. As has been noted, patients with antibody deficiency are predisposed to overwhelming infection with encapsulated bacteria (including S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and N. meningitidis). Infections that result from the lack of a functional cellular immune system are described in Chap. 226. It is worth mentioning, however, that patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for any form of cancer will have not only defects due to granulocytopenia but also lymphocyte dysfunction, which may be profound. Thus, these patients—especially those receiving glucocorticoid-containing regimens or drugs that inhibit either T cell activation (calcineurin inhibitors or drugs like fludarabine, which affect lymphocyte function) or cytokine induction—should be given


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. regimens or drugs that inhibit either T cell activation (calcineurin inhibitors or drugs like fludarabine, which affect lymphocyte function) or cytokine induction—should be given prophylaxis for Pneumocystis pneumonia.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Patients receiving treatment that eliminates B cells (e.g., with anti-CD20 antibodies or rituximab) are especially vulnerable to intercurrent viral infections. The incidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (caused by JC virus) is elevated in these patients.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Initial studies in the 1960s revealed a dramatic increase in the incidence of infections (fatal and nonfatal) among cancer patients with a granulocyte count of <500/μL. The use of prophylactic antibacterial agents has reduced the number of bacterial infections, but 35–78% of febrile neutropenic patients being treated for hematologic malignancies develop infections at some time during chemotherapy. Aerobic pathogens (both gram-positive and gram-negative) predominate in all series, but the exact organisms isolated vary from center to center. Infections with anaerobic organisms are uncommon. Geographic patterns affect the types of fungi isolated. Tuberculosis and malaria are common causes of fever in the developing world and may present in this setting as well. Neutropenic patients are unusually susceptible to infection with a wide variety of bacteria; thus, antibiotic therapy should be initiated


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Neutropenic patients are unusually susceptible to infection with a wide variety of bacteria; thus, antibiotic therapy should be initiated Physical examination: skin lesions, mucous membranes, IV catheter sites, perirectal area Granulocyte count: absolute count < 500/˜L; expected duration of neutropenia Blood cultures; chest radiogram; other appropriate studies based on history (sputum, urine, skin biopsy)


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Continue treatment until neutropenia resolves (granulocyte count > 500/˜L). Add a broad spectrum antifungal agent. Febrile Afebrile InitialtherapyFollow-upSubsequenttherapyTreat with antibiotic(s) effective against both gram-negative and gram-positive aerobes. Treat the infection with the best available antibiotics. Do not narrow the spectrum unnecessarily. Continue to treat for both gram-positive and gram-negative aerobes. Obvious infectious site found No obvious infectious site Continue regimen. FIGURE 104-2 Algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of fever and neutropenia.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. promptly to cover likely pathogens if infection is suspected. Indeed, early initiation of antibacterial agents is mandatory to prevent deaths. Like most immunocompromised patients, neutropenic patients are threatened by their own microbial flora, including gram-positive and gram-negative organisms found commonly on the skin and mucous membranes and in the bowel (Table 104-4). Because treatment with narrow-spectrum agents leads to infection with organisms not covered by the antibiotics used, the initial regimen should target all pathogens likely to be the initial causes of bacterial infection in neutropenic hosts. As noted in the algorithm shown in Fig. 104-2, administration of antimicrobial agents is routinely continued until neutropenia resolves—i.e., the granulocyte count is sustained above 500 μL for at least 2 days. In some cases, patients remain febrile after resolution of neutropenia. In these instances, the risk of sudden death from overwhelming bacteremia is greatly reduced,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. above 500 μL for at least 2 days. In some cases, patients remain febrile after resolution of neutropenia. In these instances, the risk of sudden death from overwhelming bacteremia is greatly reduced, and the following diagnoses should be seriously considered: (1) fungal infection, (2) bacterial abscesses or undrained foci of infection, and (3) drug fever (including reactions to antimicrobial agents as well as to chemotherapy or cytokines). In the proper setting, viral infection or graft-versus-host disease should be considered. In clinical practice, antibacterial therapy is usually discontinued when the patient is no longer neutropenic and all evidence of bacterial disease has been eliminated. Antifungal agents are then discontinued if there is no evidence of fungal disease. If the patient remains febrile, a search for viral diseases or unusual pathogens is conducted while unnecessary cytokines and other drugs are systematically eliminated from the regimen.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Hundreds of antibacterial regimens have been tested for use in patients with cancer. The major risk of infection is related to the degree of neutropenia seen as a consequence of either the disease or the therapy. Many of the relevant studies have involved small populations in which the outcomes have generally been good, and most have lacked the statistical power to detect differences among the regimens studied. Each febrile neutropenic patient should be approached as a unique problem, with particular attention given to previous infections and recent antibiotic exposures. Several general guidelines are useful in the initial treatment of neutropenic patients with fever (Fig. 104-2): 1. In the initial regimen, it is necessary to use antibiotics active against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (Table 104-4). 2.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In the initial regimen, it is necessary to use antibiotics active against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (Table 104-4). 2. Monotherapy with an aminoglycoside or an antibiotic lacking good activity against gram-positive organisms (e.g., ciprofloxacin or aztreonam) is not adequate in this setting. 3. The agents used should reflect both the epidemiology and the antibiotic resistance pattern of the hospital. 4. If the pattern of resistance justifies its use, a single third-generation cephalosporin constitutes an appropriate initial regimen in many hospitals. 5. Most standard regimens are designed for patients who have not previously received prophylactic antibiotics. The development of fever in a patient who has received antibiotics affects the choice of subsequent therapy, which should target resistant organisms and organisms known to cause infections in patients being treated with the antibiotics already administered. 6.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. 6. Randomized trials have indicated the safety of oral antibiotic regimens in the treatment of “low-risk” patients with fever and neutropenia. Outpatients who are expected to remain neutropenic for <10 days and who have no concurrent medical problems (such as hypotension, pulmonary compromise, or abdominal pain) can be classified as low risk and treated with a broad-spectrum oral regimen. 7. Several large-scale studies indicate that prophylaxis with a fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin) decreases morbidity and mortality rates among afebrile patients who are anticipated to have neutropenia of long duration. Commonly used antibiotic regimens for the treatment of febrile patients in whom prolonged neutropenia (>7 days) is anticipated include (1) ceftazidime or cefepime, (2) piperacillin/tazobactam, or (3) imipenem/cilastatin or meropenem. All three regimens have shown equal efficacy in large trials. All three are active against


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. P. aeruginosa and a broad spectrum of aerobic gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Imipenem/cilastatin has been associated with an elevated rate of C. difficile diarrhea, and many centers reserve carbapenem antibiotics for treatment of gram-negative bacteria that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases; these limitations make carbapenems less attractive as an initial regimen. Despite the frequent involvement of coagulase-negative staphylococci, the initial use of vancomycin or its automatic addition to the initial regimen has not resulted in improved outcomes, and the antibiotic does exert toxic effects. For these reasons, only judicious use of vancomycin is recommended—for example, when there is good reason to suspect the involvement of coagulase-negative staphylococci (e.g., the appearance of erythema at the exit site of a catheter or a positive culture for methicillin-resistant S. aureus or coagulase-negative staphylococci). Because the sensitivities of bacteria vary from


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. appearance of erythema at the exit site of a catheter or a positive culture for methicillin-resistant S. aureus or coagulase-negative staphylococci). Because the sensitivities of bacteria vary from hospital to hospital, clinicians are advised to check their local sensitivities and to be aware that resistance patterns can change quickly, necessitating a change in approach to patients with fever and neutropenia. Similarly, infection control services should monitor for basic antibiotic resistance and for fungal infections. The appearance of a large number of Aspergillus infections, in particular, suggests the possibility of an environmental source that requires further investigation and remediation.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The initial antibacterial regimen should be refined on the basis of culture results (Fig. 104-2). Blood cultures are the most relevant basis for selection of therapy; surface cultures of skin and mucous membranes may be misleading. In the case of gram-positive bacteremia or another gram-positive infection, it is important that the antibiotic be optimal for the organism isolated. Once treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics has begun, it is not desirable to discontinue all antibiotics because of the risk of failing to treat a potentially fatal bacterial infection; the addition of more and more antibacterial agents to the regimen is not appropriate unless there 491 is a clinical or microbiologic reason to do so. Planned progressive therapy (the serial, empirical addition of one drug after another without culture data) is not efficacious in most settings and may have unfortunate consequences. Simply adding another antibiotic for fear that a gram-negative infection is present is a


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. after another without culture data) is not efficacious in most settings and may have unfortunate consequences. Simply adding another antibiotic for fear that a gram-negative infection is present is a dubious practice. The synergy exhibited by β-lactams and aminoglycosides against certain gram-negative organisms (especially P. aeruginosa) provides the rationale for using two antibiotics in this setting, but recent analyses suggest that efficacy is not enhanced by the addition of aminoglycosides, while toxicity may be increased. Mere “double coverage,” with the addition of a quinolone or another antibiotic that is not likely to exhibit synergy, has not been shown to be of benefit and may cause additional toxicities and side effects. Cephalosporins can cause bone marrow suppression, and vancomycin is associated with neutropenia in some healthy individuals. Furthermore, the addition of multiple cephalosporins may induce β-lactamase production by some organisms; cephalosporins and double


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. is associated with neutropenia in some healthy individuals. Furthermore, the addition of multiple cephalosporins may induce β-lactamase production by some organisms; cephalosporins and double β-lactam combinations should probably be avoided altogether in Enterobacter infections.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Fungal infections in cancer patients are most often associated with neutropenia. Neutropenic patients are predisposed to the development of invasive fungal infections, most commonly those due to Candida and Aspergillus species and occasionally those caused by Mucor, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Trichosporon, Bipolaris, and others. Cryptococcal infection, which is common among patients taking immunosuppressive agents, is uncommon among neutropenic patients receiving chemotherapy for AML. Invasive candidal disease is usually caused by C. albicans or C. tropicalis but can be caused by C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. For decades, it has been common clinical practice to add amphotericin B to antibacterial regimens if a neutropenic patient remains febrile despite 4–7 days of treatment with antibacterial agents. The rationale for this empirical addition is that it is difficult to culture fungi before they cause disseminated disease and that mortality rates from disseminated fungal infections in granulocytopenic patients are high. Before the introduction of newer azoles into clinical practice, amphotericin B was the mainstay of antifungal therapy. The insolubility of amphotericin B has resulted in the marketing of several lipid formulations that are less toxic than the amphotericin B deoxycholate complex. Echinocandins (e.g., caspofungin) are useful in the treatment of infections caused by azole-resistant Candida strains as well as in therapy for aspergillosis and have been shown to be equivalent to liposomal amphotericin B for the empirical treatment of patients with prolonged fever and neutropenia.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Candida strains as well as in therapy for aspergillosis and have been shown to be equivalent to liposomal amphotericin B for the empirical treatment of patients with prolonged fever and neutropenia. Newer azoles have also been demonstrated to be effective in this setting. Although fluconazole is efficacious in the treatment of infections due to many Candida species, its use against serious fungal infections in immunocompromised patients is limited by its narrow spectrum: it has no activity against Aspergillus or against several non-albicans Candida species. The broad-spectrum azoles (e.g., voriconazole and posaconazole) provide another option for the treatment of Aspergillus infections (Chap. 241), including CNS infection. Clinicians should be aware that the spectrum of each azole is somewhat different and that no drug can be assumed to be efficacious against all fungi. Aspergillus terreus is resistant to amphotericin B. Although voriconazole is active against Pseudallescheria boydii,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. different and that no drug can be assumed to be efficacious against all fungi. Aspergillus terreus is resistant to amphotericin B. Although voriconazole is active against Pseudallescheria boydii, amphotericin B is not; however, voriconazole has no activity against Mucor. Posaconazole, which is administered orally, is useful as a prophylactic agent in patients with prolonged neutropenia. Studies in progress are assessing the use of these agents in combinations. For a full discussion of antifungal therapy, see Chap. 235.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The availability of a variety of agents active against herpes-group viruses, including some new agents with a broader spectrum of activity, has heightened focus on the treatment of viral infections,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Infections in Patients with Cancer 492 which pose a major problem in cancer patients. Viral diseases caused by the herpes group are prominent. Serious (and sometimes fatal) infections due to HSV and VZV are well documented in patients receiving chemotherapy. CMV may also cause serious disease, but fatalities from CMV infection are more common in HSCT recipients. The roles of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8 (Kaposi’s sarcoma–associated herpesvirus) in cancer patients are still being defined (Chap. 219). EBV lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) can occur in patients receiving chemotherapy but is much more common among transplant recipients (Chap. 169). While clinical experience is most extensive with acyclovir, which can be used therapeutically or prophylactically, a number of derivative drugs offer advantages over this agent (Chap. 215e). In addition to the herpes group, several respiratory viruses (especially RSV) may cause serious disease in cancer patients. Although


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of derivative drugs offer advantages over this agent (Chap. 215e). In addition to the herpes group, several respiratory viruses (especially RSV) may cause serious disease in cancer patients. Although influenza vaccination is recommended (see below), it may be ineffective in this patient population. The availability of antiviral drugs with activity against influenza viruses gives the clinician additional options for the prophylaxis and treatment of these patients (Chaps. 215e and 224).


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Another way to address the problems posed by the febrile neutropenic patient is to replenish the neutrophil population. Although granulocyte transfusions may be effective in the treatment of refractory gram-negative bacteremia, they do not have a documented role in prophylaxis. Because of the expense, the risk of leukoagglutinin reactions (which has probably been decreased by improved cell-separation procedures), and the risk of transmission of CMV from unscreened donors (which has been reduced by the use of filters), granulocyte transfusion is reserved for patients whose condition is unresponsive to antibiotics. This modality is efficacious for documented gram-negative bacteremia refractory to antibiotics, particularly in situations where granulocyte numbers will be depressed for only a short period. The demonstrated usefulness of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in mobilizing neutrophils and advances in preservation techniques may make this option more useful than in the past.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. A variety of cytokines, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, enhance granulocyte recovery after chemotherapy and consequently shorten the period of maximal vulnerability to fatal infections. The role of these cytokines in routine practice is still a matter of some debate. Most authorities recommend their use only when neutropenia is both severe and prolonged. The cytokines themselves may have adverse effects, including fever, hypoxemia, and pleural effusions or serositis in other areas (Chap. 372e).


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Once neutropenia has resolved, the risk of infection decreases dramatically. However, depending on what drugs they receive, patients who continue on chemotherapeutic protocols remain at high risk for certain diseases. Any patient receiving more than a maintenance dose of glucocorticoids (e.g., in many treatment regimens for diffuse lymphoma) should also receive prophylactic TMPSMX because of the risk of Pneumocystis infection; those with ALL should receive such prophylaxis for the duration of chemotherapy.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Outbreaks of fatal Aspergillus infection have been associated with construction projects and materials in several hospitals. The association between spore counts and risk of infection suggests the need for a high-efficiency air-handling system in hospitals that care for large numbers of neutropenic patients. The use of laminar-flow rooms and prophylactic antibiotics has decreased the number of infectious episodes in severely neutropenic patients. However, because of the expense of such a program and the failure to show that it dramatically affects mortality rates, most centers do not routinely use laminar flow to care for neutropenic patients. Some centers use “reverse isolation,” in which health care providers and visitors to a patient who is neutropenic wear gowns and gloves. Since most of the infections these patients develop are due to organisms that colonize the patients’ own skin and bowel, the validity of such schemes is dubious, and limited clinical data do not support their


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of the infections these patients develop are due to organisms that colonize the patients’ own skin and bowel, the validity of such schemes is dubious, and limited clinical data do not support their use. Hand washing by all staff caring for neutropenic patients should be required to prevent the spread of resistant organisms.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The presence of large numbers of bacteria (particularly P. aeruginosa) in certain foods, especially fresh vegetables, has led some authorities to recommend a special “low-bacteria” diet. A diet consisting of cooked and canned food is satisfactory to most neutropenic patients and does not involve elaborate disinfection or sterilization protocols. However, there are no studies to support even this type of dietary restriction. Counseling of patients to avoid leftovers, deli foods, undercooked meat, and unpasteurized dairy products is recommended. Although few studies address this issue, patients with cancer are predisposed to infections resulting from anatomic compromise (e.g., lymphedema resulting from node dissections after radical mastectomy). Surgeons who specialize in cancer surgery can provide specific guidelines for the care of such patients, and patients benefit from common-sense advice about how to prevent infections in vulnerable areas.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Many patients with multiple myeloma or CLL have immunoglobulin deficiencies as a result of their disease, and all allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients are hypogammaglobulinemic for a period after transplantation. However, current recommendations reserve intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy for those patients with severe (<400 mg of total IgG/dL), prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia and a history of repeated infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis has been shown to be cheaper and is efficacious in preventing infections in most CLL patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. Routine use of immunoglobulin replacement is not recommended. The use of condoms is recommended for severely immunocompromised patients. Any sexual practice that results in oral exposure to feces is not recommended. Neutropenic patients should be advised to avoid any practice that results in trauma, as even microscopic cuts may result in bacterial invasion and fatal sepsis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Several studies indicate that the use of oral fluoroquinolones prevents infection and decreases mortality rates among severely neutropenic patients. Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis is mandatory for patients with ALL and for all cancer patients receiving glucocorticoid-containing chemotherapy regimens.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In general, patients undergoing chemotherapy respond less well to vaccines than do normal hosts. Their greater need for vaccines thus leads to a dilemma in their management. Purified proteins and inactivated vaccines are almost never contraindicated and should be given to patients even during chemotherapy. For example, all adults should receive diphtheria–tetanus toxoid boosters at the indicated times as well as seasonal influenza vaccine. However, if possible, vaccination should not be undertaken concurrent with cytotoxic chemotherapy. If patients are expected to be receiving chemotherapy for several months and vaccination is indicated (e.g., influenza vaccination in the fall), the vaccine should be given midcycle—as far apart in time as possible from the antimetabolic agents that will prevent an immune response. The meningococcal and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines should be given to patients before splenectomy, if possible. The H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine should be


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. an immune response. The meningococcal and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines should be given to patients before splenectomy, if possible. The H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine should be administered to all splenectomized patients.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In general, live virus (or live bacterial) vaccines should not be given to patients during intensive chemotherapy because of the risk of disseminated infection. Recommendations on vaccination are summarized in Table 104-2 (see www.cdc.gov/vaccine for updated recommendations). Cancer of the skin Walter J. Urba, Brendan D. Curti MELANOMA Pigmented lesions are among the most common findings on skin examination. The challenge is to distinguish cutaneous melanomas, which account for the overwhelming majority of deaths resulting from 105 skin cancer, from the remainder, which are usually benign. Cutaneous melanoma can occur in adults of all ages, even young individuals, and people of all colors; its location on the skin and its distinct clinical features make it detectable at a time when complete surgical excision is possible. Examples of malignant and benign pigmented lesions are shown in Fig. 105-1.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy of melanocytes, pigment-producing cells that originate from the neural crest and migrate to FIGURE 105-1 Atypical and malignant pigmented lesions. The most common melanoma is superficial spreading melanoma (not pictured). A. Acral lentiginous melanoma is the most common melanoma in blacks, Asians, and Hispanics and occurs as an enlarging hyperpigmented macule or plaque on the palms and soles. Lateral pigment diffusion is present. B. Nodular melanoma most commonly manifests as a rapidly growing, often ulcerated or crusted black nodule. C. Lentigo maligna melanoma occurs on sun-exposed skin as a large, hyperpigmented macule or plaque with irregular borders and variable pigmentation. D. Dysplastic nevi are irregularly pigmented and shaped nevomelanocytic lesions that may be associated with familial melanoma.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. the skin, meninges, mucous membranes, upper esophagus, and eyes. 493 Melanocytes in each of these locations have the potential for malignant transformation. Cutaneous melanoma is predominantly a malignancy of white-skinned people (98% of cases), and the incidence correlates with latitude of residence, providing strong evidence for the role of sun exposure. Men are affected slightly more than women (1.3:1), and the median age at diagnosis is the late fifties. Dark-skinned populations (such as those of India and Puerto Rico), blacks, and East Asians also develop melanoma, albeit at rates 10–20 times lower than those in whites. Cutaneous melanomas in these populations are diagnosed more often at a higher stage, and patients tend to have worse outcomes. Furthermore, in nonwhite populations, there is a much higher frequency of acral (subungual, plantar, palmar) and mucosal melanomas. In 2014, more than 76,000 individuals in the United States were expected to develop melanoma, and


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. there is a much higher frequency of acral (subungual, plantar, palmar) and mucosal melanomas. In 2014, more than 76,000 individuals in the United States were expected to develop melanoma, and approximately 9700 were expected to die. There will be nearly 50,000 annual deaths worldwide as a result of melanoma. Data from the Connecticut Tumor Registry support an unremitting increase in the incidence and mortality of melanoma. In the past 60 years, there have been 17-fold and 9-fold increases in incidence for men and women, respectively. In the same six decades, there has been a tripling of mortality rates for men and doubling for women. Mortality rates begin to rise at age 55, with the greatest increase in men age >65 years. Of particular concern is the increase in rates among women <40 years of age. Much of this increase is believed to be associated with a greater emphasis on tanned skin as a marker of beauty, the increased availability and use of indoor tanning beds, and exposure to


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of age. Much of this increase is believed to be associated with a greater emphasis on tanned skin as a marker of beauty, the increased availability and use of indoor tanning beds, and exposure to intense ultraviolet (UV) light in childhood. These statistics highlight the need to promote prevention and early detection.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. RISK FACTORS Presence of Nevi The risk of developing melanoma is related to genetic, environmental, and host factors (Table 105-1). The strongest risk factors for melanoma are the presence of multiple benign or atypical nevi and a family or personal history of melanoma. The presence of melanocytic nevi, common or dysplastic, is a marker for increased risk of melanoma. Nevi have been referred to as precursor lesions because they can transform into melanomas; however, the actual risk for any specific nevus is exceedingly low. About one-quarter of melanomas are histologically associated with nevi, but the majority arise de novo. The number of clinically atypical moles may vary from one to several hundred, and they usually differ from one another in appearance. The borders are often hazy and indistinct, and the pigment pattern is more highly varied than that in benign acquired nevi. Individuals with clinically atypical moles and a strong family history of melanoma have been reported to


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. indistinct, and the pigment pattern is more highly varied than that in benign acquired nevi. Individuals with clinically atypical moles and a strong family history of melanoma have been reported to have a >50% lifetime risk for developing melanoma and warrant close follow-up with a dermatologist. Of the 90% of patients whose disease is sporadic (i.e., who lack a family history of melanoma), ∼40% have clinically atypical moles, compared with an estimated 5–10% of the population at large.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Congenital melanocytic nevi, which are classified as small (≤1.5 cm), medium (1.5–20 cm), and giant (>20 cm), can be precursors for melanoma. The risk is highest for the giant melanocytic nevus, also called the bathing trunk nevus, a rare malformation that affects 1 in 30,000–100,000 individuals. Since the lifetime risk of melanoma development is estimated to be as high as 6%, prophylactic excision early in life is prudent. This usually requires staged removal with coverage faCtors assoCiateD With inCreaseD risK of meLanoma CDKN2A, CDK4, MITF mutations


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. CDKN2A, CDK4, MITF mutations Cancer of the Skin 494 by split-thickness skin grafts. Surgery cannot remove all at-risk nevus cells, as some may penetrate into the muscles or central nervous system (CNS) below the nevus. Smallto medium-size congenital melanocytic nevi affect approximately 1% of persons; the risk of melanoma developing in these lesions is not known but appears to be relatively low. The management of smallto medium-size congenital melanocytic nevi remains controversial.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Personal and Family History Once diagnosed, patients with melanoma require a lifetime of surveillance because their risk of developing another melanoma is 10 times that of the general population. First-degree relatives have a higher risk of developing melanoma than do individuals without a family history, but only 5–10% of all melanomas are truly familial. In familial melanoma, patients tend to be younger at first diagnosis, lesions are thinner, survival is improved, and multiple primary melanomas are common.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Genetic Susceptibility Approximately 20–40% of cases of hereditary melanoma (0.2–2% of all melanomas) are due to germline mutations in the cell cycle regulatory gene cyclindependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A). In fact, 70% of all cutaneous melanomas have mutations or deletions affecting the CDKN2A locus on chromosome 9p21. This locus encodes two distinct tumor-suppressor proteins from alternate reading frames: p16 and ARF (p14ARF). The p16 protein inhibits CDK4/6-mediated phosphorylation and inactivation of the retinoblastoma (RB) protein, whereas ARF inhibits MDM2 ubiquitin-mediated degradation of p53. The end result of the loss of CDKN2A is inactivation of two critical tumor-suppressor pathways, RB and p53, which control entry of cells into the cell cycle. Several studies have shown an increased risk of pancreatic cancer among melanoma-prone families with CDKN2A mutations. A second high-risk locus for melanoma susceptibility, CDK4, is located on chromosome 12q13 and encodes the


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. an increased risk of pancreatic cancer among melanoma-prone families with CDKN2A mutations. A second high-risk locus for melanoma susceptibility, CDK4, is located on chromosome 12q13 and encodes the kinase inhibited by p16. CDK4 mutations, which also inactivate the RB pathway, are much rarer than CDKN2A mutations. Germline mutations in the melanoma lineage-specific oncogene microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) predispose to both familial and sporadic melanomas.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene is a moderate-risk inherited melanoma susceptibility factor. Solar radiation stimulates the production of melanocortin (α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone [α-MSH]), the ligand for MC1R, which is a G-protein-coupled receptor that signals via cyclic AMP and regulates the amount and type of pigment produced. MC1R is highly polymorphic, and among its 80 variants are those that result in partial loss of signaling and lead to the production of red/yellow pheomelanins, which are not sun-protective and produce red hair, rather than brown/black eumelanins that are photoprotective. This red hair color (RHC) phenotype is associated with fair skin, red hair, freckles, increased sun sensitivity, and increased risk of melanoma. In addition to its weak UV shielding capacity relative to eumelanin, increased pheomelanin production in patients with inactivating polymorphisms of MC1R also provides a UV-independent carcinogenic contribution to melanomagenesis via


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. capacity relative to eumelanin, increased pheomelanin production in patients with inactivating polymorphisms of MC1R also provides a UV-independent carcinogenic contribution to melanomagenesis via oxidative damage.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. A number of other more common, low-penetrance polymorphisms that have small effects on melanoma susceptibility include other genes related to pigmentation, nevus count, immune responses, DNA repair, metabolism, and the vitamin D receptor.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Primary prevention of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is based on protection from the sun. Public health initiatives, such as the SunSmart program that started in Australia and now is operative in Europe and the United States, have demonstrated that behavioral change can decrease the incidence of NMSC and melanoma. Preventive measures should start early in life because damage from UV light begins early despite the fact that cancers develop years later. Biological factors are increasingly being understood, such as tanning addiction, which is postulated to involve stimulation of reward centers in the brain involving dopamine pathways, and cutaneous secretion of β-endorphins after UV exposure, and may represent another area for preventive intervention. Regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreens that block UVA and UVB with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and protective clothing should be encouraged. Avoidance of tanning beds and midday (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) sun


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. sunscreens that block UVA and UVB with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and protective clothing should be encouraged. Avoidance of tanning beds and midday (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) sun exposure is recommended.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Secondary prevention comprises education, screening, and early detection. Patients should be educated in the clinical features of melanoma (ABCDEs; see following “Diagnosis” section) and advised to report any growth or other change in a pigmented lesion. Brochures are available from the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Dermatology, the National Cancer Institute, and the Skin Cancer Foundation. Self-examination at 6to 8-week intervals may enhance the likelihood of detecting change. Although the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force states that evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against skin cancer screening, a full-body skin exam seems to be a simple, practical way to approach reducing the mortality rate for skin cancer. Depending on the presence or absence of risk factors, strategies for early detection can be individualized. This is particularly true for patients with clinically atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) and those with a personal history of melanoma.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. factors, strategies for early detection can be individualized. This is particularly true for patients with clinically atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) and those with a personal history of melanoma. For these individuals, surveillance should be performed by the dermatologist and include total-body photography and dermoscopy where appropriate. Individuals with three or more primary melanomas and families with at least one invasive melanoma and two or more cases of melanoma and/or pancreatic cancer among firstor second-degree relatives on the same side of the family may benefit from genetic testing. Precancerous and in situ lesions should be treated early. Early detection of small tumors allows the use of simpler treatment modalities with higher cure rates and lower morbidity.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The main goal is to identify a melanoma before tumor invasion and life-threatening metastases have occurred. Early detection may be facilitated by applying the ABCDEs: asymmetry (benign lesions are usually symmetric); border irregularity (most nevi have clear-cut borders); color variegation (benign lesions usually have uniform light or dark pigment); diameter >6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser); and evolving (any change in size, shape, color, or elevation or new symptoms such as bleeding, itching, and crusting). Benign nevi usually appear on sun-exposed skin above the waist, rarely involving the scalp, breasts, or buttocks; atypical moles usually appear on sun-exposed skin, most often on the back, but can involve the scalp, breasts, or buttocks. Benign nevi are present in 85% of adults, with 10–40 moles scattered over the body; atypical nevi can be present in the hundreds.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The entire skin surface, including the scalp and mucous membranes, as well as the nails should be examined in each patient. Bright room illumination is important, and a hand lens is helpful for evaluating variation in pigment pattern. Any suspicious lesions should be biopsied, evaluated by a specialist, or recorded by chart and/or photography for follow-up. A focused method for examining individual lesions, dermoscopy, employs low-level magnification of the epidermis and may allow a more precise visualization of patterns of pigmentation than is possible with the naked eye. Complete physical examination with attention to the regional lymph nodes is part of the initial evaluation in a patient with suspected melanoma. The patient should be advised to have other family members screened if either melanoma or clinically atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) are present. Patients who fit into high-risk groups should be instructed to perform monthly self-examinations.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Biopsy Any pigmented cutaneous lesion that has changed in size or shape or has other features suggestive of malignant melanoma is a candidate for biopsy. An excisional biopsy with 1to 3-mm margins is suggested. This facilitates pathologic assessment of the lesion, permits accurate measurement of thickness if the lesion is melanoma, and constitutes definitive treatment if the lesion is benign. For lesions that are large or on anatomic sites where excisional biopsy may not be feasible (such as the face, hands, and feet), an incisional biopsy through the most nodular or darkest area of the lesion is acceptable; this should include the vertical growth phase of the primary tumor, if present. Incisional biopsy does not appear to facilitate the spread of melanoma. For suspicious lesions, every attempt should be made to preserve the ability to assess the deep and peripheral margins and to perform immunohistochemistry. Shave biopsies are an acceptable alternative, particularly if the suspicion


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InternalMed_Harrison. should be made to preserve the ability to assess the deep and peripheral margins and to perform immunohistochemistry. Shave biopsies are an acceptable alternative, particularly if the suspicion of malignancy is low, but they should be deep and include underlying fat; cauterization should be avoided. The biopsy should be read by a pathologist experienced in pigmented lesions, and the report should include Breslow thickness, mitoses per square millimeter for lesions ≤1 mm, presence or absence of ulceration, and peripheral and deep margin status. Breslow thickness is the greatest thickness of a primary cutaneous melanoma measured on the slide from the top of the epidermal granular layer, or from the ulcer base, to the bottom of the tumor. To distinguish melanomas from benign nevi in cases with challenging histology, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with multiple probes and comparative genome hybridization (CGH) can be helpful.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Four major types of cutaneous melanoma have been recognized (Table 105-2). In three of these types—superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, and acral lentiginous melanoma— the lesion has a period of superficial (so-called radial) growth during which it increases in size but does not penetrate deeply. It is during this period that the melanoma is most capable of being cured by surgical excision. The fourth type—nodular melanoma —does not have a recognizable radial growth phase and usually presents as a deeply invasive lesion that is capable of early metastasis. When tumors begin to penetrate deeply into the skin, they are in the so-called vertical growth phase. Melanomas with a radial growth phase are characterized by irregular and sometimes notched borders, variation in pigment pattern, and variation in color. An increase in size or change in color is noted by the patient in 70% of early lesions. Bleeding, ulceration, and pain are late signs and are of little help in


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. pattern, and variation in color. An increase in size or change in color is noted by the patient in 70% of early lesions. Bleeding, ulceration, and pain are late signs and are of little help in early recognition. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common variant observed in the white population. The back is the most common site for melanoma in men. In women, the back and the lower leg (from knee to ankle) are common sites. Nodular melanomas are dark brown-black to blue-black nodules. Lentigo maligna melanoma usually is confined to chronically sun-damaged sites in older individuals. Acral lentiginous melanoma occurs on the palms, soles, nail beds, and mucous membranes. Although this type occurs in whites, it occurs most frequently (along with nodular melanoma) in blacks and East Asians. A fifth type of melanoma, desmoplastic melanoma, is associated with a fibrotic response, neural invasion, and a greater tendency for local recurrence. Occasionally, melanomas appear clinically to


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. A fifth type of melanoma, desmoplastic melanoma, is associated with a fibrotic response, neural invasion, and a greater tendency for local recurrence. Occasionally, melanomas appear clinically to be amelanotic, in which case the diagnosis is established microscopically after biopsy of a new or a changing skin nodule. Melanomas can also arise in the mucosa of the head and neck (nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and oral cavity), the gastrointestinal tract, the CNS, the female genital tract (vulva, vagina), and the uveal tract of the eye.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Although cutaneous melanoma subtypes are clinically and histo-495 pathologically distinct, this classification does not have independent prognostic value. Histologic subtype is not part of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging, although the College of American Pathologists (CAP) recommends inclusion in the pathology report. Newer classifications will increasingly emphasize molecular features of each melanoma (see below). The molecular analysis of individual melanomas will provide a basis for distinguishing benign nevi from melanomas, and determination of the mutational status of the tumor will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and be used to identify targets that will guide therapy.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Considerable evidence from epidemiologic and molecular studies suggests that cutaneous melanomas arise via multiple causal pathways. There are both environmental and genetic components. UV solar radiation causes genetic changes in the skin, impairs cutaneous immune function, increases the production of growth factors, and induces the formation of DNA-damaging reactive oxygen species that affect keratinocytes and melanocytes. A comprehensive catalog of somatic mutations from a human melanoma revealed more than 33,000 base mutations with damage to almost 300 protein-coding segments compared with normal cells from the same patient. The dominant mutational signature reflected DNA damage due to UV light exposure. The melanoma also contained previously described driver mutations (i.e., mutations that confer selective clonal growth advantage and are implicated in oncogenesis). These driver mutations affect pathways that promote cell proliferation and inhibit normal pathways of apoptosis in


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. that confer selective clonal growth advantage and are implicated in oncogenesis). These driver mutations affect pathways that promote cell proliferation and inhibit normal pathways of apoptosis in response to DNA repair (see below). The altered melanocytes accumulate DNA damage, and selection occurs for all the attributes that constitute the malignant phenotype: invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. An understanding of the molecular changes that occur during the transformation of normal melanocytes into malignant melanoma would not only help classify patients but also would contribute to the understanding of etiology and aid the development of new therapeutic options. A genome-wide assessment of melanomas classified into four groups based on their location and degree of exposure to the sun has confirmed that there are distinct genetic pathways in the development of melanoma. The four groups were cutaneous melanomas on skin without chronic sun-induced damage, cutaneous melanomas with chronic sun-induced damage, mucosal melanomas, and acral melanomas. Distinct patterns of DNA alterations were noted that varied with the site of origin and were independent of the histologic subtype of the tumor. Thus, although the genetic changes are diverse, the overall pattern of mutation, amplification, and loss of cancer genes indicates they have convergent effects on key biochemical pathways


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. the tumor. Thus, although the genetic changes are diverse, the overall pattern of mutation, amplification, and loss of cancer genes indicates they have convergent effects on key biochemical pathways involved in proliferation, senescence, and apoptosis. The p16 mutation that affects cell cycle arrest and the ARF mutation that results in defective apoptotic responses to genotoxic damage were described earlier. The proliferative pathways affected were the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3’ kinase/AKT pathways (Fig. 105-2).


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InternalMed_Harrison. Cancer of the Skin Average Age at Duration of Known Type Site Diagnosis, Years Existence, Years Color aDuring much of this time, the precursor stage, lentigo maligna, is confined to the epidermis. Source: Adapted from AJ Sober, in NA Soter, HP Baden (eds): Pathophysiology of Dermatologic Diseases. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1984. in a subset of tumors FIGURE 105-2 Major pathways involved in melanoma. The MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT pathways, which promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis, respectively, are subject to mutations in melanoma. ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; MEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase; NF-1; neurofibromatosis type 1 gene; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. RAS and BRAF, members of the MAP kinase pathway, which classically mediates the transcription of genes involved in cell proliferation and survival, undergo somatic mutation in melanoma and thereby generate potential therapeutic targets. N-RAS is mutated in approximately 20% of melanomas, and somatic activating BRAF mutations are found in most benign nevi and 40–60% of melanomas. Neither mutation by itself appears to be sufficient to cause melanoma; thus, they often are accompanied by other mutations. The BRAF mutation is most commonly a point mutation (T→A nucleotide change) that results in a valine-to-glutamate amino acid substitution (V600E). V600E BRAF mutations do not have the standard UV signature mutation (pyrimidine dimer); they are more common in younger patients and are present in most melanomas that arise on sites with intermittent sun exposure and are less common in melanomas from chronically sun-damaged skin.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Melanomas also harbor mutations in AKT (primarily in AKT3) and PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog). AKT can be amplified, and PTEN may be deleted or undergo epigenetic silencing that leads to constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and enhanced cell survival by antagonizing the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Loss of PTEN, which dysregulates AKT activity, and mutation of AKT3 both prolong cell survival through inactivation of BAD, Bc12-antagonist of cell death, and activation of the forkhead transcription factor FOXO1, which leads to synthesis of prosurvival genes. A loss-of-function mutation in NF1, which can affect both MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT pathways, has been described in 10–15% of melanomas. In melanoma, these two signaling pathways (MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT) enhance tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, migration, and cell cycle dysregulation. Targeted agents that inhibit these pathways have been developed, and some are available for clinical use (see below). Optimal


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, migration, and cell cycle dysregulation. Targeted agents that inhibit these pathways have been developed, and some are available for clinical use (see below). Optimal treatment of patients with melanoma may require simultaneous inhibition of both MAPK and PI3K pathways as well as promotion of immune eradication of malignancy.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The prognostic factors of greatest importance to a newly diagnosed patient are included in the staging classification (Table 105-3). The best predictor of metastatic risk is the lesion’s Breslow thickness. The Clark level, which defines melanomas on the basis of the layer of skin to which a melanoma has invaded, does not add significant prognostic information and has minimal influence on treatment decisions. The anatomic site of the primary is also prognostic; favorable sites are the forearm and leg (excluding the feet), and unfavorable sites include the scalp, hands, feet, and mucous membranes. In general, women with stage I or II disease have better survival than men, perhaps in part because of earlier diagnosis; women frequently have melanomas on the lower leg, where self-recognition is more likely and the prognosis is better. The effect of age is not straightforward. Older individuals, especially men over 60, have worse prognoses, a finding that has been explained in part by a


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. is more likely and the prognosis is better. The effect of age is not straightforward. Older individuals, especially men over 60, have worse prognoses, a finding that has been explained in part by a tendency toward later diagnosis (and thus thicker tumors) and in part by a higher proportion of acral melanomas in men. However, there is a greater risk of lymph node metastasis in young patients. Other important adverse factors recognized via the staging classification include high mitotic rate, presence of ulceration, microsatellite lesions and/or in-transit metastases, evidence of nodal involvement, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and presence and site of distant metastases.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Once the diagnosis of melanoma has been made, the tumor must be staged to determine the prognosis and treatment. Staging helps determine prognosis and aids in treatment selection. The current melanoma staging criteria and estimated 15-year survival by stage are depicted in Table 105-3. The clinical stage of the patient is determined after the pathologic evaluation of the melanoma skin lesion and clinical/radiologic assessment for metastatic disease. Pathologic staging also includes the microscopic evaluation of the regional lymph nodes obtained at sentinel lymph node biopsy or completion lymphadenectomy as indicated. All patients should have a complete history, with attention to symptoms that may represent metastatic disease such as malaise, weight loss, headaches, visual changes, and pain, and physical examination directed to the site of the primary melanoma, looking for persistent disease or for dermal or subcutaneous nodules that could represent satellite or in-transit metastases,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and physical examination directed to the site of the primary melanoma, looking for persistent disease or for dermal or subcutaneous nodules that could represent satellite or in-transit metastases, and to the regional draining lymph nodes, CNS, liver, and lungs. A complete blood count (CBC), complete metabolic panel, and LDH should be performed. Although these are low-yield tests for uncovering occult metastatic disease, a microcytic anemia would raise the possibility of bowel metastases, particularly in the small bowel, and an unexplained elevated LDH should prompt a more extensive evaluation, including computed tomography (CT) scan or possibly a positron emission tomography (PET) (or CT/ PET combined) scan. If signs or symptoms of metastatic disease are present, appropriate diagnostic imaging should be performed. At initial presentation, more than 80% of patients will have disease confined to the skin and a negative history and physical exam, in which case imaging is not indicated.


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InternalMed_Harrison. MANAGEMENT OF CLINICALLY LOCALIZED MELANOMA (STAGE I, II) For a newly diagnosed cutaneous melanoma, wide surgical excision of the lesion with a margin of normal skin is necessary to remove all malignant cells and minimize possible local recurrence. The following margins are recommended for a primary melanoma: in situ, 0.5–1.0 cm; invasive up to 1 mm thick, 1 cm; >1.01–2 mm, 1–2 cm; and >2 mm, 2 cm. For lesions on the face, hands, and feet, strict adherence to these margins must give way to individual considerations about the constraints of surgery and minimization of morbidity. In all instances, however, inclusion of subcutaneous fat in the surgical specimen facilitates adequate thickness measurement and assessment of surgical margins by the pathologist. Topical imiquimod also has been used, particularly for lentigo maligna, in cosmetically sensitive locations.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a valuable staging tool that has replaced elective regional nodal dissection for the evaluation of regional nodal status. SLNB provides prognostic information and Cancer of the Skin helps identify patients at high risk for relapse who may be candidates for adjuvant therapy. The initial (sentinel) draining node(s) from the primary site is (are) identified by injecting a blue dye and a radioisotope around the primary site. The sentinel node(s) then is (are) identified by inspection of the nodal basin for the blue-stained node and/or the node with high uptake of the radioisotope. The identified nodes are removed and subjected to careful histopathologic analysis with serial section using hematoxylin and eosin stains as well as immunohistochemical stains (e.g., S100, HMB45, and MelanA) to identify melanocytes.