Skin Cancer

Melanoma located on the head and neck are associated with a potentially worse prognosis relative to alternate anatomical sites and peripherally located melanoma compared to those centrally located. 

In a recent analysis, researchers examined whether results from a lesion diagnostic assay remained accurate after 12 months. The findings could alter how dermatologists approach future melanoma diagnosis in clinic.

Researchers recently examined a non-invasive test that, if additional studies can confirm, may directly affect future patient care for patients at risk for non-melanoma skin cancer.

Joel Cohen, M.D., shares his response to recent findings regarding the safety of chemical sunscreen and discusses why patients should consider using physical sunscreens.

A new technology based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy has demonstrated accuracy in both sensitivity and specificity for discriminating skin cancers from benign lesions, one expert says.

Combined imaging modalities may help guide choice of treatment and prevent biopsy, according to one expert.

Accurately diagnosing some melanocytic neoplasms is challenging because they may fall into a grey area histologically, one expert says. Recent progress in molecular genetics can help dermatopathologists more precisely classify tumors, leading to more appropriate treatment and management choices.

GEP testing could improve staging accuracy and help streamline disease management, but more research is needed to determine if a high-risk GEP classification is associated with improved response to newer systemic therapies.

Read about the recent advancements in noninvasive imaging modalities that are making an impact on dermatological care. 

Laser-assisted drug delivery used to fractionally ablate the target area prior to topical medical treatment can be useful in patients with widespread actinic damage, says this expert.

Dermatologists should work to gain a better understanding of immunologic pathways as well as the mechanisms of new and evolving immunotherapies, as these are key for understanding many current and emerging melanoma treatments, one expert says.

Sunscreen has been in the news as a recent study found that active ingredients in commercially available sunscreens quickly enter the bloodstream at levels far exceeding the recommended threshold. Still, researchers and physicians are urging Americans to continue using sunscreen, until more is known. These experts explain why.

In this pipeline report, Dermatology Times presents insights into Hh pathway inhibitors currently in phase 2 and phase 3 for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. 

Innovative melanoma therapeutics are on the horizon. This pipeline report highlights some of the new drugs currently in phase 2, phase 3 or recently approved for the treatment of melanoma.

Better awareness in disease progression and improved understanding of field cancerization has shifted the thinking in management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma.

Learn about Nano-Pulse Stimulation and how this novel technology could potentially treat both benign and malignant dermatologic lesions.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has classically been performed for regional disease control and to hopefully prevent disease metastasis; however, according to this expert, there has not been any good evidence to support this practice.

Some might view the use of non-human intelligence in dermatology as a threat. But this expert believes it's up to dermatologists to transform this technology into an opportunity to ‘augment' clinical practice.

Are your patients are looking for alternatives to surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer? Superficial radiation therapy (SRT) may be the answer.

Dermatologists and their patients are among those tapping into a growing market for apps that claim to help diagnose, treat and prevent skin cancers, including melanoma.

Learn about the most important surgical and medical advancements in skin cancer treatments as they developed over time.

Molecular assays have been proven to assist in the diagnosis and prognosis of malignant melanoma. One expert expects that these molecular assays will play a central role in the future treatment and management of malignant melanoma.

There have been major technological advances in optical imaging techniques over the last decade, but the dermatoscope remains the diagnostic tool of choice for the quick and accurate imaging of pigmented skin lesions. Find out why in this article.

A recent study aimed to explore whether patients suffering from psoriasis carry serious medical morbidity, including cancer, that is not detected through history, physical exam and laboratory studies. 

Continued research has led to a variety of melanoma immunotherapy medications, leading to improved survival of melanoma patients. Clinicians should have a firm grasp of the immune mechanisms behind these novel therapies to provide the best advice on treatment and management options of their melanoma patients

Superficial radiation therapy is experiencing a renaissance in dermatologic therapy due to the modernized equipment and updated guidelines, as well as excellent treatment outcomes for patients with NMSC which rival those seen with other approaches, including Mohs surgery.

The cutaneous side effects of targeted therapies and immunotherapy for melanoma can complicate treatment and become a burden to patients. Dermatologists must aggressively address these side effects for a more ideal management and better quality of life for their melanoma patients.

The development of new biologics targeting a variety of dermatoses is on the upswing with some treatments coming to the clinic as early as this year, according to April Armstrong, M.D. who discussed the topic at the American Academy of Dermatology Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C.

In this table, we highlight frequently asked questions about the staging, treatment and surveillance of early-stage melanoma.