The Dermatological Cancer Program offers comprehensive
diagnostic and treatment services for premalignant and
malignant lesions of the skin. Most patients with cutaneous
malignancies are cared for within the Department of
Dermatology. Multidepartmental treatment is arranged for
those patients who will benefit from the use of
multidisciplinary therapy using a wide variety of
modalities. The initial clinic visit is usually devoted to
clinical and laboratory evaluation, review of
histopathologic material, diagnostic studies, and
consultation with other clinical services. Surgical
treatment offers the highest cure rate for most primary
cancers of the skin. Excisional surgery may be used;
however, many of the lesions seen in this clinic are of
sufficient size or complexity that micrographically
controlled (Mohs) surgery is the appropriate form of
treatment. Therefore, a frozen tissue laboratory is
available for use in this procedure. When indicated,
multispecialty surgery and care is coordinated with
Oculoplastic and Orbital Oncology, Otolaryngology- Head and
Neck Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical
Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Medical Oncology. The
Dermatopathology Service provides important consultation and
expertise in the analysis of histopathologic specimens. Such
consultation is particularly relevant in the diagnosis of
pigmented dysplastic lesions, precancerous cutaneous
diseases, histopathologic staging of malignant melanoma,
differentiation of inflammatory and reactive diseases for
malignancy, immunohistochemistry, and related issues. Since
the majority of the cutaneous carcinomas occur on the head
and neck and effective therapy may lead to cosmetic defects,
facial prosthetic services are also available on referral.
Services
Following treatment, regular follow-up protocols are
arranged to monitor patients for tumor recurrence or
development of additional primary cutaneous tumors. Since
high risk patients may acquire multiple primary skin tumors,
regular skin surveillance, continuing patient education, and
early treatment are critical to the high success rate
obtained in the treatment of patients with skin cancer. The
follow-up services can be coordinated with the referring
physician. Screening skin examinations are also very
important in patients with a history of heavy sun exposure
or multiple pigmented lesions of the skin. These patients
can be examined in the clinic to detect skin tumors in their
earliest visible stage- a critical component for high cure
rates and an excellent prognosis for most patients with skin
cancer.
Select from the following for additional
dermatological and skin cancer literature:
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