Sterile versus nonsterile gloves during Mohs micrographic surgery: infection rate is not affected.

Background: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is an outpatient procedure that has become the treatment of choice for certain cutaneous malignancies. Although the major steps in this procedure are relatively standardized, one difference involves the use of sterile or nonsterile, clean gloves during the tumor removal phase.

Objective: This retrospective chart review study was performed to evaluate whether infection rates are affected by the use of sterile versus nonsterile gloves in the tumor extirpation phase of MMS.

Self-treatment of a basal cell carcinoma with "black and yellow salve".

Patients may seek "alternative" or "non-traditional" therapies for dermatologic problems, frequently in search of a miraculous cure. However, many of these medicaments contain unknown compounds with questionable benefit and a potential for significant harm. We describe a patient who developed a large ulceration on her nose after applying "black and yellow salves" obtained from Mexico in an attempt to self-treat a basal cell carcinoma.

Simple things that make a difference in nasal reconstruction.

The nose is the most common location for nonmelanoma skin cancer. As a result, nasal reconstruction is a frequent challenge for Mohs surgeons. The esthetic outcome of each nasal repair can be improved by replacing nasal skin with the most similar match, restoring the intricate three-dimensional structure of the nose and applying the principle of cosmetic subunits.

Mohs micrographic surgery for granular cell tumor using S-100 immunostain.

Background: Granular cell tumor (GCT) is an uncommon tumor of neural origin. Most commonly it is found in the head and neck region and rarely on the foot. The pathologic diagnosis is often confirmed by immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein.

Mohs micrographic surgery for melanoma: a case series, a comparative study of immunostains, an informative case report, and a unique mapping technique.

Background: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has been established as an alternative to standard surgical excision for local cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) and melanoma in situ (MIS). The use of melanocyte-specific immunohistochemical stains may improve the diagnostic accuracy of MMS frozen sections.

Objective: We used MMS with immunostains to determine the maximum and minimum margins required to clear 52 melanomas, mostly MIS of the head and neck.

Zoon's balanitis treated with Erbium:YAG laser ablation.

Background And Objective: Zoon's balanitis (ZB) is an uncommon, benign, idiopathic inflammatory condition affecting uncircumcised males. Definitive treatments include circumcision and carbon dioxide (CO2) laser ablation. We describe an alternative laser modality showing efficacy in the treatment of ZB.