Immunohistochemistry utilization in the diagnosis of melanoma.

Background: The use of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains in dermatopathology is commonplace; however, little is known regarding utilization trends in melanoma diagnosis. Current Medicare local coverage determinations (LCDs) state that most pigmented lesions, including melanoma, can be diagnosed using H&E alone.

Methods: Histopathology reports for all biopsy-proven melanomas excised between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018, at a single dermatology clinic, were identified with the following parameters abstracted: laboratory/dermatopathologist rendering the diagnosis, whether IHC was performed, type/number of stains utilized, presence/depth of invasion, and melanoma subtype.

Triple Hedgehog Pathway Inhibition for Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Vismodegib, a potent inhibitor of the hedgehog pathway, is an effective treatment for advanced basal cell carcinoma. More recently, it has become recognized that other oral and topical medications exist that also inhibit this pathway. Multifocal inhibition has been shown to work more efficaciously than a single pathway inhibition when treating melanocytic tumors.

Concordance of frozen and permanent sections for the diagnosis of skin lesions.

Background: There has been little written concerning the use of frozen sections to diagnose skin lesions.

Objective: To compare the concordance between frozen and permanent sections of the same diagnostic skin biopsy specimen.

Methods And Materials: Over 3 months, all non-melanocytic skin lesions that were biopsied in a skin cancer clinic were examined using frozen and permanent sections.