Skin Cancer

Although Mohs micrographic surgery represents the gold standard for treatment of many skin cancers, says an expert, healthcare reform dictates that dermatologists also consider less costly options when appropriate.

Treating uncommon tumors that present in a Mohs surgical unit requires matching the tumor’s clinical history and histopathology with available therapies, says an expert who spoke at the 71st annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting.

The many vagaries of lentigo maligna (LM) or melanoma in situ typically demand staged excision techniques for maximal margin control, according to an expert who spoke at the 71st annual American Academy of Dermatology conference.

Numerous therapies are making a significant difference in the management of metastatic melanoma, according to an expert who spoke at the annual Canadian Melanoma Conference.

Continued research has led to new and exciting noninvasive therapies for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), lentigo maligna and malignant melanoma, offering some patients an alternative to surgery and/radiation treatment approaches.

Total immersion photography, performed with the Melanoscan device (Melanoscan Inc.), has the potential to reduce operator error and possibly catch nearly all melanomas in the noninvasive stage, says an expert.

The treatment and management of skin cancers in organ transplant recipients (OTR) is challenging. Recent breakthrough medications and combination treatment approaches have resulted in more effective therapeutic options for this patient population.

Women who regularly take aspirin have a 21 percent lower risk of developing melanoma than those who do not take the drug, results of a recent study indicate.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Lymphoseek, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent to locate lymph nodes in patients with certain cancers, including melanoma.

More states and municipalities are considering enacting laws that would restrict minors from using indoor tanning facilities.

Most tanning salons in Missouri would allow children as young as age 10 to tan if there were no legal restrictions against doing so, according to results of a survey conducted by researchers.

When tissue conservation is critical, Mohs surgery remains the standard of care in skin cancer removal, allowing clinicians greater margin control than some treatment alternatives.

Because the impact of elevated vitamin D levels in areas other than bone health has yet to be established, an expert recommends oral supplementation and maximum sun protection for patients with melanoma.

A newly formed group of indoor tanning retailers is working to correct what it calls “misinformation” about tanning beds and boost public awareness of the potential benefits of UV exposure.

The Skin Cancer Foundation has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission regarding what it calls the “dangerous” promotion of indoor tanning on the MTV show “Jersey Shore.”

A fractional resurfacing technique that uses a 1927 nm nonablative thulium laser reduces the number of facial actinic keratosis and provides noticeable clearance of photodamage, results of a recent study indicate.

Consumers who use smartphone applications to analyze suspicious lesions or moles are at risk of having inaccurate diagnoses and delayed treatments, results of a new study indicate.

Intermittent dosing of vemurafenib extended the lives of lab mice with drug-resistant melanoma tumors, according to results of an international study.

Exposure to ultraviolet nail lamps does not increase the risk of developing skin cancer, a recent study indicates.

Imiquimod shows promise for treating cases of melanoma in situ that aren’t amenable to surgery, and for other off-label indications such as metastatic melanoma, says M. Shane Chapman, M.D.

The decision to perform a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with melanoma requires considering many factors, including the patient’s input, says Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, M.D.

High-tech imaging modalities are helpful in detecting metastatic neural spread of tumors, a process known as perineural spread (PNS), and thus can be instrumental in better managing the patient, says Barton Lane, M.D.

Despite the number of currently available options for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs), dermatologists are still challenged by the occasional patient with widespread lesions refractory to multiple modalities.