Preface

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer occurring worldwide. The high prevalence of skin cancer, its potentially life-threatening consequences (as in melanoma), and its cosmetic implications for patients make it paramount that physicians adequately understand the disease and its treatment. Skin cancer is unique in that sun exposure is ubiquitous, placing many patients at increased risk for developing the disease. Perhaps even more compelling is that because of skin cancer's anatomic location and visibility, a well-trained eye can spot a suspicious lesion on a routine skin examination and prevent a poor outcome for a patient. Early detection and appropriate treatment greatly improve the prognosis in many cases, making comprehensive knowledge of the disease and its therapies essential to physicians of all specialties. Technological advances are revolutionizing the way we diagnose and treat patients. Teledermatology, imaging, and robotics, among others, will have great implications for the detection and treatment of skin cancer in the field of dermatology.

This textbook is designed to further the knowledge of skin cancer in all of its readers. It discusses different neoplasms of the skin throughout various chapters, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and other tumors. The book then progresses to explore skin cancer in specific demographic populations. Skin cancer in immunosuppressed populations, non-White populations, and pregnant individuals is the topic of several sections. Discussion of biopsy techniques and both surgical and medical approaches to skin cancer treatment, including but not limited to surgical excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunomodulators, is then undertaken. The final few chapters touch on the educational, economic, legal, and psychological aspects of skin cancer, as well as new innovations in the field, such as teledermatology and artificial intelligence. The summaries and clinical pearls in each chapter provide concise information to guide physicians, and the patient education points in each chapter can be utilized by physicians to inform their patients about a variety of issues concerning skin cancer.

We hope that students, residents, fellows, physicians, and other medical professionals find in this book crucial information pertaining to skin cancer that will enhance their studies of dermatology and medicine. The authors of these chapters are eager to share their knowledge and expertise with all readers whose interest and dedication bring them to the study of this textbook. We hope that readers walk away with a solid grasp on all aspects of skin cancer, including diagnosis, treatment, and psychological implications. Our goal is to prepare physicians by enriching their understanding of skin cancer disease and to provide them with the vital tools to succeed in detecting and treating this prevalent illness, ultimately improving patient survival and well-being.

Keyvan Nouri, MD, MBA, FAAD, FACMS

Professor of Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Surgery

Louis C. Skinner, Jr., M.D. Endowed Chair in Dermatology

Richard Helfman Professor of Dermatologic Surgery

Chair of the University of Miami Medical Group

Director of Mohs, Dermatologic & Laser Surgery

Director of Surgical Training

Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery

University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of American Academy of Dermatology