In the blog category “Case Studies” Professor David Wilkinson offers an excellent platform to discuss clinical problems and cases within a closed alumni community. This area is password-protected and only accessible to past HealthCert Certificate course participants.

We encourage you to submit clinical images and questions so we can all learn together.

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This week we have an interesting case from Dr Tracey Zeelie. We don’t have a history or clinical picture. What is your opinion on this dermoscopy image? If you would biopsy, what technique would you use?

This month’s research article is from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia. The authors consider the important question: what is the risk of melanoma recurrences among patients with a high-risk, localised melanoma?

This week we have an interesting case from Dr Renuka Ranasinghe. An elderly male presented for a skin check for benign seb k’s noticed by his wife.  The below shown pigmented lesion was noted – what do you make of the clinical and dermoscopic pictures? How would you biopsy this lesion?

In this month’s skin cancer update video, Professor Giuseppe Argenziano talks about the role of Imiquimod in the treatment of primary melanoma. Using real patient case examples, Giuseppe describes the context in which Imiquimod can be utilised and the type of results physicians can expect.

Can dermoscopy aid in the differentiation of subungual melanoma in situ from benign longitudinal melanonychia? A recent study investigated the characteristic dermoscopic findings of subungual melanoma in situ to establish a predictive scoring model for the diagnosis of the disease in patients with adult-onset longitudinal melanonychia affecting a single digit.

Do phenotypic characteristics and pattern of UV radiation exposure differ according to body site of melanoma? A study investigated the association between phenotypic characteristics, pattern of UV radiation exposure, and risk of melanoma on different body sites.

A study conducted in 2004 assessed the rate of skin cancer in a cohort of paediatric organ transplant recipients. Five to 16 years post-transplantation, none of the participants had developed skin cancer. Researchers have now re-evaluated the same cohort 10 years later to determine the prevalence of pre-malignant and malignant skin lesions and to identify […]

This week we have an engaging case. A 57-year-old woman who had noticed the depigmented lesion on her arm for some months. Patient thought she may have had a BCC three years before, but was unsure of site and size. What do you make of the clinical and dermoscopic pictures? How would you biopsy this lesion?

This month, I share a useful review article on the often vexed topic of dysplastic naevi. The article summarises new understandings about the genetic makeup of benign and dysplastic naevi, as well as melanoma. The summary by Ardakani is well worth reading for everyone, and if you want to explore issues around dysplastic naevi more, read […]

Hydrochlorothiazide has been associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, a Danish study investigated the association between hydrochlorothiazide use and the risk of Merkel cell carcinoma and malignant adnexal skin tumours.