George B. Winton

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma).

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is a recently described malignant neoplasm of the adnexal structures of skin that shows a marked propensity for early infiltrative and locally aggressive growth. Its banal clinical appearance may lead to a delay in diagnosing the tumor by biopsy, and its multifaceted histologic features may lead to an incorrect tissue diagnosis. Confusion with benign tumors and less aggressive malignancies can lead to inadequate initial treatment and extensive recurrences. We describe three cases of microcystic adnexal carcinoma and review the clinical and histologic features, treatment, and prognosis of this neoplasm.

Dermabrasion of the scalp as a treatment for actinic damage

Dermabrasion of the scalp was safely and effectively performed on five patients as a treatment for actinic damage. This surgical modality can be an important part of the management of solar keratoses of the scalp in patients with alopecia.

Wound dressings for dermatologic surgery

Cutaneous surgery requires more than technical skill. A thorough understanding of instrumentation, suture material, sterile technic, and wound dressings is also imperative. This article will organize, primarily by pictorial essay, the often-neglected subject of surgical dressings. The principals and theory of dressings, the materials available to construct them, and the specific technics for tailoring them to difficult anatomic sites will be presented.

Isotretinoin-basal cell carcinoma prevention trial: Design, recruitment results, and baseline characteristics of the trial participants

The Isotretinoin-Basal Cell Carcinoma Prevention Trial (ISO-BCC Study) is a double-masked, randomized, placebo controlled, multicenter clinical trial. It is the first intramural cancer chemoprevention trial sponsored by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control of the National Cancer Institute. This trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic administration of low dosage levels (10 mg) of a synthetic retinoid, isotretinoin, in reducing the incidence of basal cell carcinoma in a high-risk population and to determine the incidence and severity of side effects associated with this long-term treatment. Between 1984 and 1987, eight clinical centers enrolled 981 participants between the ages of 40 and 75, who had two or more biopsy proven basal cell carcinomas in the 5 years before trial entry. This article describes the trial design, recruitment results, and baseline characteristics of the participant population in the ISO-BCC Study.