1 What is cryosurgery? Cryosurgery is the controlled application of low temperatures to cause tissue damage. It can be used to treat both benign and malignant skin conditions. With cryosurgery, the degree of tissue damage is controlled in order to…
1 How does one define dermatologic surgery? Dermatologic surgery describes procedures involving the skin and/or its appendages. Although many specialties may perform dermatologic surgery, dermatologists receive specific training in treating the skin both medically and surgically. Some dermatologists undergo additional…
Key Points: Topical Steroids 1. Approximately 2% total body surface area (TBSA) requires one fingertip unit (FTU) or 0.5 g of topical steroid medication. One percent of the patient's TBSA can be estimated as one palmar surface, including the fingers.…
1 List some important facts about skin cancer About 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are related to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. More than 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer were treated in over 3.3 million people in…
1 How often do internal malignancies metastasize to the skin? Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies are uncommon, with a reported incidence that varies from less than 1% to over 10%. The largest autopsy study including 7500 patients with internal malignancies…
Atypical fibroxanthoma/pleomorphic dermal sarcoma 1 What is an atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) and what is it relationship to pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS)? AFX is a malignant neoplasm that occurs chiefly in the elderly, upon sun-damaged skin. These tumors are usually well…
1 Define lymphoma A lymphoma is a malignancy of the immune system that is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes. Lymphoma can arise in either B cells or T cells or natural killer lymphocytes. Lymphomas can be divided into…
1 What is melanoma? Cutaneous melanoma is a malignant tumor of skin melanocytes. Other, less common sites of melanoma that are not considered “cutaneous” include melanoma of the eye, brain, oral mucosa, nasopharyngeal area, nail bed, and anal area. 2…
1 How are skin cancers classified? Primary cutaneous cancers are classified on the basis of their cell of origin within the skin ( Table 43.1 ). Skin cancers are most commonly derived from keratinocytes (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma [SCC], basal…
1 What are tumors of fibrous tissue? Tumors of fibrous tissue (“soft tissue tumors”) are typically mesenchymal tumors composed of fibroblasts and variants of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts produce the structural components of the dermis, including collagen, elastin, and ground substance (dermal…