Gloria Jimenez

Histologic cure of basal cell carcinoma treated with cryosurgery.

BACKGROUND Cryosurgery is a method of treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Despite numerous studies reporting excellent cure rates with cryosurgery, there are no studies in the literature that have shown a histologic cure of BCC. OBJECTIVE We sought to show histologically that cryosurgery is an effective cure for well-defined, noduloulcerative BCC of the trunk and upper extremities. METHODS Twelve noduloulcerative BCCs of the trunk and proximal upper extremities less than 1 cm were treated with single freeze-thaw cryosurgery using a cryoprobe apparatus with liquid nitrogen. A thermocouple needle measured temperature, with the goal to reach between -50 degrees C and -60 degrees C. One to 2 months later, the site was excised and examined with horizontal step sections throughout the entire tissue. RESULTS No tissue specimens had histologic evidence of tumor. CONCLUSION Single freeze-thaw cryosurgery provides a histologic cure of well-defined, noduloulcerative BCCs of the trunk and extremities less than or equal to 1 cm.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (adenosquamous carcinoma) treated with Mohs micrographic surgery

Background  Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), sometimes referred to as adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC), is a common malignant tumor of the salivary glands that can also develop from the esophagus, lacrimal passages, lung, upper respiratory tract, pancreas, prostate and thyroid. Rarely, MEC will present primarily in the skin.

Laser Hair Removal in a Patient with Vitiligo

A 32-year-old woman with vitiligo was treated with 755 nm Gentlase laser hair removal, in an area of normal skin and an area of vitiliginous skin. The area of normal skin responded with hair reduction of 89% after four laser treatments, but the hair on the vitiliginous area did not respond. No Koebner phenomenon was observed after treatment.