Examining dermatology residency applicant profiles for the 2023-2024 cycle: a cross-sectional analysis.

Dermatology remains highly competitive, with strong USMLE Step 1 scores traditionally crucial for securing residency positions. The 2023-2024 cycle introduced significant changes, including pass/fail USMLE Step 1 score reports and an expanded program signaling system. This study explores dermatology residency applicant profiles within this new context.

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer in Patients Older Than Age 85 Years Presenting for Mohs Surgery: A Prospective, Multicenter Cohort Study.

Importance: It has been suggested that Mohs surgery for skin cancer among individuals with limited life expectancy may be associated with needless risk and discomfort, along with increased health care costs.

Objective: To investigate patient- and tumor-specific indications considered by clinicians for treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer in older individuals.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted using data from US private practice and academic centers.

Cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses and the Risk of Keratinocyte Carcinomas.

Cutaneous human papillomavirus (cuHPV) infections may be novel targets for skin cancer prevention and treatment, but critical information regarding the development of virus-positive skin cancers following cuHPV infection has been lacking. In this study, baseline cuHPV infection was measured by serology and viral DNA detection in eyebrow hairs (EBH) and forearm skin swabs (SSW) among 1,008 individuals undergoing routine skin cancer screening exams and followed for incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC). Baseline β-HPV detection, particularly in SSW, significantly predicted cuSCC (HR = 4.

Association between Human Polyomaviruses and Keratinocyte Carcinomas: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: A positive association between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC) has been observed in at least one previous case-control study. To evaluate this association in a prospective context, we investigated infections with human polyomaviruses (HPyV), including MCPyV, as predictors of keratinocyte carcinomas, including cuSCC and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), among a cohort of immunocompetent individuals enrolled in the Viruses in Skin Cancer (VIRUSCAN) Study.

Methods: Associations between markers of baseline HPyV infection (serum antibodies and viral DNA in eyebrow hairs and skin swabs) and incident keratinocyte carcinomas were modeled using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Viruses in Skin Cancer (VIRUSCAN): Study Design and Baseline Characteristics of a Prospective Clinic-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that cutaneous viral infections are risk factors for the development of keratinocyte carcinomas. The Viruses in Skin Cancer (VIRUSCAN) Study, a prospective cohort study, was established in 2014 to investigate the risk of keratinocyte carcinoma associated with cutaneous human papillomavirus and polyomavirus infection and the possible interaction with ultraviolet radiation exposure (UVR).

Methods/results: VIRUSCAN incorporates repeated measures of viral infection using multiple markers of infection and quantitative measures of UVR using a spectrophotometer.

Case-control study of genus-beta human papillomaviruses in plucked eyebrow hairs and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Cutaneous human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been reported in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We conducted a clinic-based case-control study to investigate the association between genus-beta HPV DNA in eyebrow hairs (EBH) and SCC. EBH from 168 SCC cases and 290 controls were genotyped for genus-beta HPV DNA.

Telomere length and risk of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.

Background: Telomeres help maintain chromosomal structure and may influence tumorigenesis. We examined the association between telomere length and skin cancer in a clinic-based case-control study of 198 melanoma cases, 136 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases, 185 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases, and 372 healthy controls.

Methods: Cases were histologically confirmed patients treated at the Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida Dermatology Clinic in Tampa, FL.

Case-control study of cutaneous human papillomavirus infection in Basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

Genus-β human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA has been detected in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumors, but most epidemiologic studies have not observed associations between genus-β HPV seropositivity and BCC. A clinic-based case-control study was conducted to investigate cutaneous HPV infection in BCC. BCC cases (n=224) were recruited from a dermatology clinic, and controls (n=300) were patients who were screened negative for skin cancer.

Rapid immunostaining in Mohs: current applications and attitudes.

Background: Rapid immunostaining in Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has been extensively reviewed in the recent literature. Despite the recent attention, there is relatively little information on how frequently these techniques are actually utilized and the current attitudes of the Mohs community towards immunohistochemical (IHC) stains.

Objective: We attempted to obtain information on the utilization and attitudes towards the use of rapid immunostaining in Mohs through a survey of fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons.

Patterns and timing of sunlight exposure and risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin--a case-control study.

Background: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), comprised of basal (BCC) and squamous (SCC) cell carcinomas, is the most common cancer in Caucasians. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the most important environmental risk factor for NMSC. However, the precise relationship between UVR and the risk of NMSC is complex, and the relationship may differ by skin cancer type.

Case-control study of cutaneous human papillomaviruses in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Background: Cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin.

Methods: To investigate the association between cutaneous HPV and SCC, a case-control study was conducted, including 173 SCC cases from a university dermatology clinic and 300 controls that screened negative for skin cancer. Serum antibodies against cutaneous HPV types in genera alpha, beta, gamma, mu, and nu were measured.

Sunlight exposure and cutaneous human papillomavirus seroreactivity in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin.

Background: Ultraviolet radiation exposure may interact synergistically with cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin.

Methods: To investigate differences in the risk of sunlight-associated BCC and SCC by cutaneous genus-specific HPV serostatus, a case-control study was conducted among 204 BCC and 156 SCC cases who were recruited from a university dermatology clinic and 297 controls who had no history of cancer and screened negative for current skin cancer. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between measures of sunlight exposure and BCC/SCC, stratified by genus-specific HPV serostatus, with adjustment for age and sex.

Advances in the management of cutaneous toxicities of targeted therapies.

Contrary to what might have been expected, the effects of targeted therapies are not limited to the cancer cells and are unfortunately associated with many and numerous adverse events. Dermatologic manifestations are among the most frequently observed, and, when severe and/or protracted, they inevitably impact the quality of life of patients. Management of these various side effects is empirical and mostly based on expert advice and consensus.

Case-control study of smoking and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Objective: To investigate the association between cigarette smoking and basal and squamous cell carcinomas (BCC and SCC) of the skin, a clinic-based case-control study was conducted in Tampa, FL.

Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed BCC/SCC were recruited from a university dermatology clinic (n = 215 BCC, 165 SCC). Controls were comprised of individuals with no history of skin cancer who screened negative for skin cancer upon physical examination at the affiliated cancer screening or primary care clinics (n = 315).

Case-control study of Merkel cell polyomavirus infection and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) DNA has been reported in 0% to 25% of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) occurring in immunocompetent individuals. We conducted the first serologic case-control study of MCV and SCC.

Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed cutaneous SCC (n = 173) were recruited from a university dermatology clinic.

Mohs surgery for melanoma: rationale, advances and possibilities.

Mohs surgery (MS) is an effective technique for the removal of a variety of cutaneous neoplasms by virtue of its thorough assessment of margins. It has yet to become widely accepted for melanoma because recognizing melanocytes histologically in frozen section can be problematic. Recently, 'rapid' methods of immunohistochemistry have been developed that resolve this issue by staining the melanocytes in frozen section.

Distinction of melanoma in situ from solar lentigo on sun-damaged skin using morphometrics and MITF immunohistochemistry.

Distinction between melanoma in situ (MIS) and solar lentigo (SL) on chronically sun-damaged skin (CSDS) by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) criteria alone can be difficult and in frozen section (FS) material, may be virtually impossible without immunohistochemistry (IHC). In this study, we used microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) IHC-directed image analysis to compare melanocyte nuclear morphometrics of MIS, SL, and sections of sun-damaged skin from redundant tissue acquired during Mohs micrographic surgery. The mean nuclear diameter and melanocytic density figures for MIS were greater than those for SL and CSDS by both independent t-test and analysis of variance statistics.

The role of maintenance phototherapy in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Phototherapy is well-recognized as effective therapy in early stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (patch and plaque), often resulting in complete clearance of clinical disease and subsequent remission. Although not curable, long-term remission can often be attained utilizing maintenance phototherapy, consisting of a course of less frequent treatments over time. Herein, the authors review the literature regarding the role of maintenance phototherapy in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and its success in prolonging clinical remission and disease-free survival in CTCL.