Five skin cancer developments reported in May

May has been designated National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Developments on melanoma and other types of skin cancer reported during this month on Healio.com/Dermatology include findings that reflectance confocal microscopy distinguishes between benign melanotic macules and lip melanoma, and that most older patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery are highly functioning:

Reflectance confocal microscopy distinguishes lip melanoma from benign melanotic macules

In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy can be used to distinguish between benign melanotic macules and lip melanoma, according to study results recently published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers conducted a retrospective observational study of 31 patients from two referral centers for melanoma in Australia, who were recruited between June 2007 and January 2015, and separated into two groups. Read more

Pulsed CO₂ laser ablation comparable to cryotherapy for superficial BCC

Although surgery showed greater efficacy and cosmetic outcome compared with pulsed CO₂ laser ablation, there was no statistically significant difference between laser ablation and cryotherapy in those outcomes for superficial basal cell carcinoma, according to study results.

Researchers studied 240 adults whites (mean age, 67.2 years; 139 men) with one superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the trunk, arm or leg who were enrolled at the outpatient clinic of the dermatology department of the University of Brescia, Italy. Read more

Older patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery are highly functioning

Most patients aged 75 years and older undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery were found to be highly functioning, according to research published in Dermatologic Surgery.

Researchers studied 291 patients aged 75 years and older (mean age, 82.1 years; 180 men) who were undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery at eight geographically diverse U.S. locations. Read more

Survey finds less than half of women assist husbands with skin cancer self-exams

Less than half of surveyed married women helped their husbands with skin cancer detection, according to results released by the American Academy of Dermatology.

The survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) of 1,250 married women aged 40 to 64 years found that 44% reported helping their husband conduct skin self-examinations for signs of skin cancer at least once a year, according to a news release from AAD. Read more

Many melanoma survivors practice suboptimal sun protection

Although most melanoma survivors effectively limit their sun exposure, a considerable number practice less-than-optimal sun exposure behaviors, according to study results published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Melanoma is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, and incidence has increased during the past 30 years. More than 76,000 cases were diagnosed in the United States last year, and more than 10,000 Americans died of the disease, according to SEER statistics. Read more