Marco Brusasco

Dr. Marco Brusasco

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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24 February 2025 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MBMarco Brusasco
Marco Brusasco
SSSofia Spagnolini
Sofia Spagnolini
LMLAURA MAZZONI
LAURA MAZZONI
SMSerena Magi
Serena Magi
GSGiuseppe Scarcella
Giuseppe Scarcella
Ignazio StanganelliIgnazio Stanganelli
Ignazio Stanganelli
Background/Objectives: The prevalence of tattoos has risen globally in recent decades, ranging from 10% to 29%. Although rare, melanomas arising within tattoos are challenging for dermatologists due to the complexities in clinical and dermoscopic evaluation. In this article, we report two cases of melanoma on tattoos, review the reported cases in the literature, and examine the role of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in improving the diagnosis of melanoma on tattooed skin. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search on Medline/Pubmed for the period from the inception of the databases to 31 October 2024, using the Mesh major topics ‘melanoma’ AND ‘tattoo’ OR ‘tattoo skin tumor’. Out of the 268 citations identified by our search, 37 studies met the eligibility criteria. Results: In total, 43 cases of melanoma arising on tattooed skin were identified, to which we add our 2 cases, bringing the total to 45. The most common locations were the upper limbs (53%) and trunk (38%), predominantly arisen on black and blue tattoos. Of 40 cases with known depth of invasion, 4 were in situ and 36 invasive, with a mean Breslow thickness of 2.7 mm. Seven patients had a positive sentinel lymph node. Of 16 cases with an available horizontal diameter, 12 melanomas had a diameter of ≥1 cm. Conclusions: The limited cases of ‘’melanoma on tattoos” reported in the literature suggest a coincidental association rather than a direct causal link. Nevertheless, increased awareness among patients and tattoo artists about potential risks and preventive measures may enhance the management of melanocytic lesions in tattooed individuals. Lastly, integrating reflectance confocal microscopy with dermoscopy increases the overall diagnostic accuracy for melanoma, enhancing the identification of pigmented and non-pigmented skin lesions.

25 January 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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MGMaria Beatrice De Felici Del Giudice
Maria Beatrice De Felici Del Giudice
GRGiorgia Ravaglia
Giorgia Ravaglia
MBMarco Brusasco
Marco Brusasco
FSFrancesca Satolli
Francesca Satolli
Introduction: Psoriasis (PSO) and atopic dermatitis (AD) have traditionally been considered distinct diseases, respectively, mediated by T-helper 1 (Th1) and the T-helper 2 (Th2) immune pathway. In recent years, there has been a growing body of evidence highlighting an overlap between the two conditions, such as Asian AD, pediatric PSO, or “psoriasis dermatitis/PSOREMA”. Moreover, psoriasis dermatitis can be induced by therapeutic interventions. For instance, anti-IL-4/IL-13 monoclonal antibodies, commonly used to treat AD, can induce psoriasiform reactions by inhibiting the Th2 pathway, thereby unmasking Th1/Th17-driven PSO. Conversely, anti-TNFα and anti-IL-17 therapies, effective for PSO, may induce eczematous reactions promoting a switch toward Th2-driven inflammation. Janus Kinase Inhibitors (JAK-i) and IL-23 antagonists may represent valid therapeutic options for managing psoriasis dermatitis. JAK-i exert broader immunomodulatory effects, inhibiting both Th1 and Th2 pathways; however, they require careful monitoring due to potential adverse events. In contrast, IL-23 antagonists specifically suppress the IL-23/IL-17 axis inhibiting the p19 subunit of IL-23 and could represent a safer option for patients with psoriasis dermatitis. Materials and Methods/Results: We present a series of five cases of psoriasis dermatitis, including both patients who had the condition from the onset and those who developed it during treatment, with tailored therapeutic strategies based on individual patient profiles, comorbidities, and the specific characteristics of their overlapping disease presentation. Conclusion: JAK-i and IL-23 antagonists are both valid therapeutic options for managing psoriasis dermatitis, but with different immunomodulatory effects and safety profiles. Future research should focus on a better understanding of the immune pathway and identifying specific biomarkers of psoriasis dermatitis, to optimize therapeutic strategies.

19 March 2022 in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Saverio CainiSaverio Caini
Saverio Caini
MBMarco Brusasco
Marco Brusasco
GNG. Niero
G. Niero
VGVincenzo de Giorgi
Vincenzo de Giorgi
MLM. Lombardo
M. Lombardo
ISI. Stanganelli
I. Stanganelli

9 October 2023 in JEADV Clinical Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
LRLucia Restano
Lucia Restano
MBMarco Brusasco
Marco Brusasco
CCClaudio Cappadona
Claudio Cappadona
NMNicola A. Monzani
Nicola A. Monzani
RCRiccardo Cavalli
Riccardo Cavalli
Background: Scabies are a significant health issue for institutions and represent a health burden in children. Topical treatments such as permethrin 5% are usually effective but lately, a loss of efficacy has been observed.Objectives: To describe demographic data, topical treatment schemes (permethrin 5%; benzyl benzoate 25%) and outcomes in children with scabies over the past 2 years.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated records of children aged 0 to 14 years with scabies treated in our outpatient clinic from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022.Results: Two hundred and thirty‐one records were evaluated. Permethrin 5% (P5%) was used as first‐line treatment in 103 children with a success rate of 81.5%; benzyl benzoate 25% (BB25%) was successful in 94.3% of 123 patients. Three patients were lost for follow up and two received other therapies. Mean days of application using P5% increased from 4.1 to 6.8 in 2 years, whereas BB25% showed an opposite trend, from 10 days to 4.7. With the same days of application, the success rate with BB25% was higher (repeated cycle of 2 treatment days, 7 days apart [2 + 2]: 93.3% for BB25% vs. 82.9% for P5%; 3 + 3‐day regime: 91.9% for BB25% vs. 83% for P5%). Twenty‐three out of 26 patients who still had active scabies after the first cycle cleared with a second treatment cycle, with the same topical treatment, or with a different agent. Mild to moderate skin irritation was the only side effect observed (18.4%), more frequently associated with BB25% (81%).Conclusions: During the observational period, the use of permethrin decreased while regimen duration increased, probably due to a perceived lack of efficacy. Conversely the use of benzyl benzoate both as first‐line treatment and after permethrin failure increased, despite being more correlated to local inflammation. Both 2 + 2 and 3 + 3 regimes for P5% and BB25% may be considered as suitable first‐line treatment of scabies in children.

9 February 2024 in Dermatology Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Ignazio StanganelliIgnazio Stanganelli
Ignazio Stanganelli
SMSerena Magi
Serena Magi
LBLauro Bucchi
Lauro Bucchi
Emanuele CrocettiEmanuele Crocetti
Emanuele Crocetti
SMSilvia Mancini
Silvia Mancini
FGFAD MelaMEd Working Group
FAD MelaMEd Working Group
The text discusses the role of general practitioners (GPs) in the prevention and early diagnosis of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It highlights the need for GPs to be able to recognize suspicious skin lesions and refer patients to specialist dermatology centers. However, many GPs lack comprehensive training in diagnosing melanoma. The text mentions that various training courses have been conducted for GPs, but their impact on clinical practice has been limited. The "MelaMEd Programme" is an e-learning course developed by the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI). The program aims to provide GPs with comprehensive knowledge of melanoma prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It includes an e-learning section and a dedicated platform called MelaMEd platform, which offers a multimedia atlas of melanoma. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the MelaMEd programme on GPs' diagnostic accuracy, knowledge of melanoma, and management of suspicious lesions. The methodology involves administering pre-training and post-training questionnaires to participants, assessing their diagnostic skills and evaluating the training course's effectiveness. The study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the MelaMEd programme in improving GPs' ability to recognize and manage melanoma. It also seeks to identify areas for improvement and recommend interventions to enhance diagnostic accuracy. The results will be analyzed statistically using descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analysis methods.

29 December 2022 in Dermatology Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MBMarco Brusasco
Marco Brusasco
CFClaudio Feliciani
Claudio Feliciani
MGMaria Beatrice De Felici del Giudice
Maria Beatrice De Felici del Giudice
We report the case of a patient with chronic granulomatous disease and acne treated with isotretinoin, who developed a diffuse staphylococcal skin infection during the therapy. Chronic granulomatous disease is a rare genetic disorder characterized by an altered innate immunity with an increased risk of potentially lethal bacterial and fungal infections. Although chronic granulomatous disease is rare, acne is a common manifestation in these patients, but there are no data about the gold standard therapy.