Radiation Therapy Efficacy in Scarred Tissues
Radiation therapy is least effective in scarred tissues with poor blood supply. The relative hypoxia of the tissues decreases cellular metabolism and increases its resistance to radiation. Smoking also...
View ArticleRadiation Therapy of Skin Cancer: Dosing and Complications
Although, radiation of ear carcinomas can pose a risk of chondritis and poor healing, that risk can be virtually eliminated with lower dose fractions (radiation dose per treatment) spread over a longer...
View ArticleBasosquamous Cell Carcinoma
Metatypical basosquamous cell carcinoma is a subset of cutaneous cancers that poses an increased risk of metastases to the patient due to its aggressive behavior. The classic histology of metatypical...
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Adnexal Carcinomas of Skin
In general, adenocarcinomas of skin, when diagnosed, must be differentiated from metastasis of a visceral adenocarcinoma to the skin. PET scan plays an important role in that setting. The most common...
View ArticleLong Term Radiation Consequences
This month we presented a case of radiation dermatitis some 20+ years following radiation treatment of skin carcinoma. This case had the classic presentation of a dry ulcer surrounded by atrophic...
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When is a Subcutaneous Cancer Not A Cutaneous Carcinoma?
Epithelial malignancies frequently present with significant subcutaneous extent while manifesting the usual surface changes such as induration, crusting, or ulceration. Occasionally, they present with...
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Atypical Fibroxanthoma of the Skin
Atypical Fibroxanthoma of the skin (AFX) is an uncommon tumor of sun-exposed areas of elderly white men, most commonly on the scalp and ears. This fibro-histiocytic spindle cell neoplasm has a...
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Scalp Radiation for High Risk Skin Cancer – The Perils and the Perfect Storm
At the last SCARS Tumor Conference, we presented a 66 year old “Perfect Storm” patient with scalp lesions. He exhibited three critical characteristics: 1. extensive scarring by multiple dermatologic...
View ArticleActinic Keratosis – New Treatment Options
Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common sun-damage related precancerous lesion of the skin. The mainstay of treatment of these scaly rough lesions had been liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Recently,...
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Erivedge (Vismodegib) – The Unconsummated Miracle
Erivedge (vismodegib) is the new orally administered hedgehog-pathway inhibitor. Its results in Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (Gorlin syndrome) are impressive as shown by Tang, Mackay, Aszterbaum et al in...
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