Part 2: Management of Intraoperative and Perioperative Bleeding.

With an increase in number of patients on antithrombotic therapies, management of bleeding during dermatologic surgery is increasingly important. As described in Part 1, perioperative discontinuation of antithrombotic therapies may increase the risk of embolic events thus the risks and benefits must be weighed carefully when deciding whether to continue or suspend therapy. However, continuing oral anticoagulants may result in increased intraoperative and postoperative bleeding.

Part 1: Management of Antithrombotic Medications in Dermatologic Surgery.

Perioperative management of antithrombotic agents requires practical and medical considerations. Discontinuing antithrombotic therapies increases the risk of thrombotic adverse events including cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and retinal artery occlusion. Conversely, continuation of antithrombotic therapy during surgical procedures has associated bleeding risks.

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.

The role of imaging in the management of patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer: When is imaging necessary?

When treating aggressive skin cancers, pre- and postoperative imaging provides important information for treatment planning and multidisciplinary cooperation of care. It is important for dermatologists to recognize the clinical scenarios where imaging is indicated in the management of skin cancer. We here address the most common indications for imaging in cutaneous oncology and how to best utilize the modalities available.

The role of imaging in the management of patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer: Diagnostic modalities and applications.

While uncomplicated cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer can be treated with surgery, destruction, or topical therapy alone, advanced or neglected cases require more complex management decisions. Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons should be familiar with the imaging techniques relevant to cutaneous oncology and their value in different clinical scenarios. Herein we review imaging modalities used in management of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Repair of the medial canthus following Mohs micrographic surgery.

Background: The medial canthus poses unique reconstructive challenges because of its anatomy and contour. The reconstructive goal should be preservation of the natural concavity that defines it because even small alterations can result in perceptible asymmetry.

Objective: To present the anatomy of this unique cosmetic subunit and review reconstructive options that preserve contour and function.

Assessment of postoperative pain after Mohs micrographic surgery.

Background: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has the highest cure rate for the treatment of cutaneous malignancies and is usually performed in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia. Although most patients experience minimal discomfort during the procedure, postoperative pain after MMS has not been well-characterized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the amount of postoperative pain after MMS and to determine whether the degree of pain is correlated with factors such as tumor location, size, number of excisions, or age or sex of the patient.

The biomechanical properties of the skin.

Background: The skin possesses unique biochemical properties that allow it to protect and conform to the body that it covers. Elements constituting the dermis-collagen and elastin-primarily afford these properties.

Objectives: To define these properties and explore their relevance with regard to aging skin and dermatologic surgery.

Large facial basal cell carcinoma treated with multimodal combination therapy.

Large basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) with mixed intratumoral histology can present treatment challenges. Although a single treatment modality may be appropriate for some portions of the tumor, it may prove to be inadequate or overly aggressive for others. We describe a patient with a large facial BCC who was referred to our clinic for Mohs micrographic surgery.

Masers to magic bullets: an updated history of lasers in dermatology.

Laser therapy is one of the fastest expanding and most exciting fields in dermatology. From its theoretical beginnings in Einstein's imagination, lasers have come to be used in treatments for conditions ranging from skin malignancy and acne to hirsutism and photoaging. We will briefly review the evolution of laser treatment, with a focus on the recent developments surrounding the new millennium.

Epidermotropically metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

We describe an epidermotropically metastatic pancreatic mucinous ductal adenocarcinoma on the scalp. Neoplastic glandular structures that varied in size and shape containing abundant mucin within the lumens and in the neoplastic cells were present within a seborrheic keratosis and adjacent normal epidermis. Similar neoplastic glandular structures were present in the dermis, some within adnexal epithelium and lymphatic vessels.

LASER-tissue interactions.

As new laser devices continue to emerge, it becomes increasingly important for the clinical dermatologist to understand the basic principles behind their operation. A fundamental understanding of how lasers interact with tissue will enable the physician to choose the most appropriate laser for a given clinical situation. Although the physical laws guiding laser design are vastly complex, the fundamental principles of laser-tissue interaction can be summarized as they are applicable to the clinician.

Mohs surgery for malignant eccrine neoplasms.

Background: Eccrine carcinomas (ECs) are rare tumors with potentially aggressive clinical behavior and a high recurrence rate following conventional surgical excision. With the exception of microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC), there have been few reports on the use of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) as a primary treatment for EC.

Objective: To review the use of MMS for EC and compare treatment outcomes with those of conventional surgical excision.