Cancer Dermatology

The dermatologist is best suited to choose the most appropriate form of treatment for the skin cancer patient. The variety of techniques available to him for unbiased evaluation permits numerous options for management. On the other hand, the dermatologistreader must be aware that some of the treatment descriptions offered in this text are meant for display rather than application. In particular, the chapter on surgery (25), by Dr Peter Calamel, a head and neck surgeon, starts benignly enough discussing wedge resections and suture techniques but then goes on for 25 pages to describe procedures hardly within the range of skills of the average dermatologist. Surgeons, however, could benefit from reading this book by being exposed to other forms of therapy for skin cancer. The book is divided into three sections—etiology, clinical course, and management. The first section is handled competently. In particular, I found most interesting a brief chapter on