The Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatology: improving cosmetic dermatology education through collaboration, research, and advocacy.

Cosmetic and laser procedures are increasingly popular among patients and are skills in which dermatologists are regarded as well trained. Most dermatology residents intend to incorporate cosmetic procedures into their practice and prefer to learn such procedures during residency through direct patient care. However, there are notable challenges in optimizing how residents are trained in cosmetic and laser dermatology. To address these barriers and elevate the practice of cosmetic dermatology in academic medicine, the Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatology (AACD) was founded in 2021 as the lead professional society for dermatologists who direct the education of resident trainees in cosmetic and laser dermatology. The AACD, a group of board-certified dermatologists who teach cosmetic and laser dermatology to residents, aims to improve cosmetic dermatology education through collaboration, research, and advocacy.

Needs and Gaps in Resident Trainee Education, Clinical Patient Care, and Clinical Research in Cosmetic Dermatology: Position Statement of the Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatology.

Cosmetic dermatology is a key subspecialty of academic dermatology. As such, academic centers are expected to demonstrate excellence in the teaching of cosmetic dermatology skills to trainees, the clinical delivery of cosmetic dermatology services to patients, and the performance of clinical research that advances knowledge and uncovers new therapies in cosmetic dermatology. The Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatology (AACD), a newly formed medical professional society, includes as its principal aims the support of all of these areas. AACD is comprised of group of board-certified dermatologists who teach cosmetic and laser dermatology at US dermatology residency programs. An expert panel constituted by the AACD recently convened a workshop to review gaps pertaining to academic cosmetic dermatology. This panel considered needs and potential corrective initiatives in three domains: resident education, patient experience, and clinical research. The work of the panel was used to develop a roadmap, which was adopted by consensus, and which will serve to guide the AACD moving forward.

Surgical excision margins for fibrohistiocytic tumors, including atypical fibroxanthoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A probability model based on a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Mohs micrographic surgery or wide local excision is the treatment of choice for fibrohistiocytic tumors with metastatic potential, including atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) and cutaneous undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (cUPS). Since margin clearance is the strongest predictor of clinical recurrence, improved recommendations for appropriate surgical margins help delineate uniform excision margins when intraoperative margin assessment is not available. OBJECTIVE: To determine appropriate surgical wide local excision margins for AFX and cUPS. METHODS: Literature search (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 2020) to detect case-level data. Estimation of margins required using a mathematical model based on extracted cases without recurrences. RESULTS: Probabilistic modeling based on 100 cases extracted from 37 studies showed peripheral clearance margin (ie, wide local excision margin) calculated to clear 95% of all tumors was 2 cm for AFX and 3 cm for cUPS. AFX tumors 1 cm or less required a margin of 1 cm. LIMITATIONS: Data were extracted from published cases. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical fibroxanthoma removed with at least a 2-cm peripheral excision margin is less likely to recur. Smaller tumors 1 cm or less can be treated with a more conservative margin. Margin-control surgical techniques are recommended to ensure complete removal while minimizing surgical morbidity.

Cutaneous odontogenic sinus: an inflammatory mimicker of squamous cell carcinoma and epidermal cysts.

An odontogenic cutaneous sinus tract (OCST) of dental origin is an uncommon and frequently misdiagnosed lesion that is caused by chronic periodontitis. Given that OCSTs often lack symptoms, are located on the lower face, and can have notable variations in clinical appearance, they can be mistaken for more common dermatologic diagnoses such as squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and cysts. We present 2 patients with OCSTs who were referred for cutaneous surgery for a rendered diagnosis of an SCC and epidermal cyst. A proper diagnosis was rendered after a high index of suspicion, and clinicopathologic correlation led to additional testing and eventual referral to oral surgery for an OCST.

A Novel Technique to Improve Accuracy of Mohs Mapping for Large Stages with a Small Tumor Burden.

Precision of the Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) process during orientation, microscopic analysis, tissue mapping, and tumor clearance of specimen margins is essential for MMS to attain high cure rates; however, this elaborate process is subject to error. Large tumor stages with a small tumor burden present an avenue for error during MMS mapping. We present a novel technique to improve the accuracy of MMS mapping using an MMS slide marked for residual tumor superimposed onto a mobile device photograph of the surgical defect. This is taken to better identify location of residual tumor both on the digitalized MMS photomap and surgical defect. This novel technique decreases recurrence rates by decreasing the inevitable subjectivity involved with the superimposition of residual tumor foci from a microscopic view onto the digitalized MMS photomap then onto the surgical defect particularly in larger stages with a small tumor burden.

Porokeratosis ptychotropica: a rare variant that is commonly misdiagnosed.

Porokeratosis ptychotropica (PP) is a rare variant of porokeratosis characterized by pruritic, scaly papules and plaques localized to the perianal and gluteal cleft regions. Clinically, PP resembles other common disorders, resulting in frequent misdiagnosis. The diagnosis of PP often takes several years to make, therefore many reported cases in the literature described the late stages of PP. We report a case of PP diagnosed at an early stage. By presenting our patient, we aim to raise further awareness of PP to avoid a delay in diagnosis, thus preventing long term complications of this rare entity.

Skin wrinkling of the upper arms: a case of mid-dermal elastolysis.

Mid-dermal elastolysis is a rare acquired elastic tissue disorder with about 100 cases reported in the literature. It is characterized by localized patches of finely wrinkled skin on the shoulder and upper extremities and a band-like loss of elastic tissue in the mid-dermal layer on biopsy. Some patients may have symptoms of discomfort, erythema, and/or pruritis. Mid-dermal elastolysis is predominantly seen in young to middle-aged Caucasian females and extensive skin involvement may lead to cosmetic concerns. Furthermore, it is important to rule out other disorders of elastic fiber that are associated with systemic involvement. We present a case of MDE, discuss the differential diagnosis, and describe characteristic clinical features and histology findings of each condition.

Bacterial Endocarditis Presenting as Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis.

Subacute bacterial endocarditis can have many different presentations; in rare instances, it can present as leukocytoclastic vasculitis owing to the effect of circulating immune complexes and micro-emboli on the vascular endothelium. A high index of suspicion needs to be maintained to differentiate between infectious vs noninfectious autoimmune vasculitides, keeping in mind that missing a diagnosis can have fatal results. In this case report, we introduce a young female patient who initially presented with a picture of idiopathic autoimmune cutaneous vasculitis delaying the diagnosis of an underlying infective endocarditis with aortic valve involvement.