2024 CS Plenary Sessions
It’s not often you can surround yourself with experts in your field who are as willing to engage with you as you are with them—not unless you attend DF’s annual Clinical Symposium. Year after year, the event gathers illustrious speakers. These summaries of mini-symposia presentations delivered in 2024 by Drs. Elizabeth Billingsley, Yvonne Chiu, Jaehyuk Choi, Jennifer Choi, David Cohen, Carrie Coughlin, Lindy Fox, Ginette Okoye, Olayemi Sokumbi, and Ashley Wysong.
Can We Cure Cutaneous Lymphomas in 2024?
Dr. Jaehyuk Choi presented his research about novel therapies for cutaneous lymphomas. In his research, Dr. Choi analyzes patient samples using omics, machine learning, and AI to identify therapeutic targets for further evaluation in clinical trials. Dr. Choi shared three patient cases where he helped the treating physician find therapies to induce remission. Case #1…
Precision Medicine in Cutaneous Lymphoma
Dr. Jaehyuk Choi presented two patient cases that demonstrate his approach to precision medicine in cutaneous lymphoma. Patients are referred to Dr. Choi from multiple institutions to better understand their disease and drivers of therapeutic resistance. He uses machine learning algorithms to identify predictive biomarkers and develop innovative next-generation therapies. Case #1 A 64-year-old male…
Shared Decision Making in Dermatology
Dr. Carrie Coughlin presented information about shared decision making (SDM) for dermatologists. First, Dr. Coughlin provided an overview of SDM. SDM occurs when providers and patients come together to make decisions. The decision must involve at least two reasonably equivalent options. Clinicians must clearly communicate the options and elicit patient and/or family preferences. The benefits…
Congenital Melanocytic Nevi: An Update
Dr. Carrie Coughlin presented information about the clinical evaluation, treatment, and management of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN). First, Dr. Coughlin discussed CMN clinical evaluation and risk assessment. Initial evaluation includes a physical exam with palpation because melanoma can present underneath the skin. If the nevus is large or giant, Dr. Coughlin also examines the lymph…
Dermatologic Emergencies: SJS/TEN Mimics
Dr. Lindy Fox presented information about dermatologic emergencies that mimic Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN). First, Dr. Fox described SJS/TEN, a severe skin reaction that causes damage to the skin and mucus membranes and can be life-threatening. Dr. Fox believes that SJS and TEN are two distinct conditions. SJS typically presents as targetoid lesions that…
“From the Door” Diagnosis of Life-threatening Infections
Dr. Lindy Fox presented four patient cases demonstrating the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of life-threatening cutaneous infections. She referred to these infections as “from the door” diagnoses because the clinical presentation is clearly concerning from the moment you walk in the door. Case #1 A 33-year-old female with dermatomyositis presented with bullae and purpuric…
How I Do It: Psoriasis in Skin of Color
Dr. Ginette Okoye presented information about the clinical presentation and treatment of psoriasis in patients with skin of color. First, Dr. Okoye described the clinical presentation of psoriasis in patients with skin of color. Classic psoriasis, characterized by well-demarcated erythematous (red) plaques and micaceous (silver-colored) scales, can occur in these patients. Non-classic presentations of psoriasis…
Common and Uncommon Pitfalls in Clinicopathologic Correlation
Dr. Olayemi Sokumbi discussed three patient cases that demonstrate pitfalls in clinicopathologic correlation (CPC), the correlation between clinical and histopathological diagnosis. She believes that the gold standard for diagnosis involves collaboration between the dermatologist and dermatopathologist. Case #1: Double whammy A 28-year-old male presented with scattered plaques and nodules on his arms and legs. He…
Skin Color in Clinicopathological Correlation
Dr. Sokumbi presented information about the role of skin color in clinicopathological correlation (CPC) and dermatopathology. She argued that dermatologists should understand how skin of color clinical deficiencies, and biases impact dermatopathology and shared three patient cases of inflammatory dermatoses that demonstrate pitfalls to consider in skin of color. Case #1: Overcoming bias A 64-year-old…